On this day in 1849, Edgar Allan Poe died at the age of forty under mysterious circumstances.

For more information about Poe's death, read "Mysterious for Evermore" by Matthew Pearl, an article on Poe's death from The Telegraph. Pearl is the author of a fascinating novel about the subject, The Poe Shadow.

Last year, on the occasion of Poe's 200th birthday, I took over the StarShipSofa Audio Science Fiction Magazine to host an hour-long tribute to this pioneer of the short story, luminary of Gothic horror, father of detective fiction, and giant of science fiction. You can stream or download the episode here at the StarShipSofa website. If you listen, I hope you enjoy my celebration of Poe's life, works, and legacy!

Here are some Poe-related links for your day:

• From The Chronicle of Higher Education yesterday: "Goucher Presents New Ballet About Edgar Allan Poe."


• From Reuters last year: "Edgar Allan Poe Gets Funeral 150 Years After His Death."


• PoeStories.com: An Exploration of Short Stories by Edgar Allan Poe


• The Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore


• The Poe Museum of Richmond (See my pictures of the museum here.)


• The Edgar Allan Poe Digital Collection at the Harry Ransom Center (University of Texas at Austin)

Once more I bring you Nox Arcana. Their tribute to Poe includes memorable quotes from the master himself:




Text of the Day: This year, I'm going to post my very favorite work by Poe (and that's saying a lot, for I do love Poe). Here, my friends, is "Alone."

From childhood's hour I have not been
As others were--I have not seen
As others saw--I could not bring
My passions from a common spring.
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow; I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone;
And all I lov'd, I loved alone.
Then--in my childhood--in the dawn
Of a most stormy life--was drawn
From ev'ry depth of good and ill
The mystery which binds me still:
From the torrent, or the fountain,
From the red cliff of the mountain,
From the sun that 'round me roll'd
In its autumn tint of gold--
From the lightning in the sky
As it pass'd me flying by--
From the thunder and the storm,
And the cloud that took the form
(When the rest of Heaven was blue)
Of a demon in my view.