Tamerlane and Other Poems

Tamerlane and Other Poems is the first published work of the American writer Edgar Allan Poe. The only 40 -page book of poems appeared in 1827. Was known to exist today only twelve copies of the book.

Background

After a falling out with his foster father, John Allan Poe went to Boston, the place of his birth. One reason that he chose Boston is likely to have been that his mother Eliza Poe had left him a painted her watercolor of the city, standing on the back:

For my little son Edgar, that he has always loved Boston - the place of his birth - and where his mother found her best and most sympathetic friends. ( For my little son Edgar, who shoulderstand ever love Boston, the place of his birth, and where his mother found her best and most sympathetic friends).

Publication history

In the spring of 1827 Poe gave his manuscript to a 18-year- old printer named Calvin FS Thomas. Maybe the contact came, as Poe's parents with Thomas parents were known. Thomas printed otherwise only labels and leaflets; Tamerlane and Other Poems is the only proven brought out by his book. The band appeared in the format of 17.15 to 11.43 inches and cost twelve and a half cents. The publication paid Poe. When the book was released in June or July 1827, Poe was 18 years old. How many copies were printed, is uncertain. Many researchers estimate of 50 copies, while specify other numbers between 20 and 200.

Tamerlane and Other Poems was published anonymously with the note " From a Boston " ( " By a Bostonian "). The reason for this could be either been that Poe did not want his foster father found out his whereabouts, or Poe wanted to thus deliberately distance themselves from Richmond and at the same time ensure success in the important Boston book market.

This collection of poems was so small distribution, Rufus Wilmot Griswold that could not locate him in 1850, claiming that the book was never published. A first specimen was retrieved in 1859, a second in 1874.

Topic

The poems of the tape show the influence of Percy Bysshe Shelley, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and especially Lord Byron. Tamerlane, the title character of the most important poem, has a daughter named Ada, Byron's probably named after their daughter Ada Lovelace. Poe admired Byron's poetry as well as his adventurous life. According made ​​by Poe's disappearance from Richmond rumors spread that he had, like his role model Byron, embarked and insurgents connected in Greece ( the Greek Revolution was at that time, however, already history ).

The title poem Tamerlane refers to the historical figure of the Mongol conqueror Tamerlane. Shown is a dying ruler who regrets having made ​​the ambition of love in his youth. Autobiographical elements in the poem suggest that Poe processed the loss of his childhood sweetheart, Sarah Elmira Royster and / or his mother. In addition, Poe was similar to the Tamerlane of the poem, of uncertain origin and wore a "fake " name ( namely Allan ).

For the other poems of the band, as Poe himself admitted that they:

Very taste a little to for self - mirroring of, but they are written by someone who was still too young at the time, than that he would have his world knowledge from other sources can draw for out of his own heart.

One of the poems, Imitation, Poe later worked to A Dream Within a Dream, and members of Evening Star can be found again in Ulalume.

Reception

Tamerlane and Other Poems came to the time of its publication on any critical echo, neither positive nor negative. The band was mentioned only in a few lists of new publications.

The literary critic Joseph Wood Krutch described the band in the 1920s " from a few poems the work of a beginner ."

As far as known, there are only twelve copies of Tamerlane and Other Poems, which the band is one of the rarest first editions of American literature. Most specimens are in the collections of libraries and museums. In December 2009, an original for 662 500 U.S. dollar was bought.

  • " To - " ( known under the title "Song" )
  • " Tamerlane "
  • " Visits of the Dead" ( known under the title " Spirits of the Dead" )
  • " Evening Star "
  • "Imitation "
  • Poem without title ( known under the title " Stanzas " )
  • Poem without title ( known under the title " A Dream" )
  • Poem without title ( known under the title " The Happiest Day" )
  • " The Lake "
Timur Kenneth Silverman
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