Customer Reviews

The End of the World in Poe: The Nineteenth Century Sociological Context of Adventism in Selected Works of Edgar Allan Poe

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I found this book full of interesting insights about the lives and times of the major American authors of the early 19th century. Although "The End of the World in Poe" is primarily concerned with the influence of the times on the writing of Edgar Allan Poe, specifically the three stories of his pertaining to "end times", or what the author, Dr. David A. Yeagley, calls the Millerite Adventist Millennialism of the era, it also makes considerable note of the influence, or conspicuous lack thereof, that the period may have had on the likes of Melville, Hawthorne, Thoreau and Emerson, among others. The book seems to tie up all the loose ends of history. Pretty ambitious and it succeeds pretty well, all in all. A truly unique and cosmic perspective on those anticipated anxious end times of the 1830's and '40's and the authors of that era that have undoubtedly shaped and/or reflected the American psyche and character. A timely subject as we anxiously await the approach of another prophesied and portentous date, 2012.

Highly recommended reading.