Customer Reviews

The Raven

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this edition of Poe's classic poem on impulse during the holidays, mostly because the price was right and because I have always been partial to Doré's illustrations. In the past few years, I've purchased several of these large (12 x 9 1/2) hardbacks showcasing Doré's work, including Dante's Divine Comedy, and Scenes from the Bible, and I also have the old Dover paperback of 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner'. I think these are exciting additions to my bookshelves, and, at the same time, I hope that Doré's work might act as a lure for the kids, inspiring them to investigate the literature to which these engravings belong.

To my mind, this edition of 'The Raven' has two specific flaws and some other small details that the publishers could have improved. The first, and most critical, is the book's layout. After a short biography of Poe and Doré, the full text of 'The Raven' is reprinted on four pages - sans illustrations. Immediately after, Doré's engravings begin, generally on the right hand page with the appropriate section of the poem on the left - but the complete poem is not included throughout the illustrated section. Instead, onlly excerpts are given, presented like captions. In other words, you cannot read the book as you might if you were reading an illustrated story - as, for instance, you might to children - without turning back to the first few pages. Approximately 25% or so of the poem is missing on the pages opposing the illustrations, and though I have tried, I can't think of any good reason for this, unless it has to do with some bizarre copyright rule.

The other flaw is intrinsic - these were Doré's last illustrations, and in comparison with his earlier work, I felt that on average they were washed out and indistinct. It is possible, of course, that Poe's dreamy, gauzy stanzas was what Doré was attempting to reflect, but one of the appealing aspects of his work is its sharp contrasting figures and distinctive expressions. I don't want to suggest that 'The Raven' is completely devoid of Doré's signature style - it isn't - but overall, it doesn't rise to the inspiring levels of his scenes from the Bible, or to his work on Coleridge's 'Ancient Mariner'. The compositions I thought were intriguing, but the execution only fair.

Other points that readers may or may not see as deficiencies include the other poems selected to fill out the volume, and their accompanying illustrations. To break up the text, the publishers used a great deal of clip art, which, truthfully, looks like clip art. Of course, there aren't any other engravings by Doré to correspond to these additional poems, but unfortunately, this other art feels 'tossed in' after 'The Raven'. And one last note, which is truthfully very minor and not likely to bother anyone else - in his short biography of Poe that precedes the main text, Dr. Brook Haley indulges in some pop Freudian psychoanalysis when listing the influences on Poe's life, and he also tends to present conjecture as fact when squaring the historical record.

These last few points in and of themselves do not detract enough from the book to mark it down in rating, but in conjunction with the incomplete sections of the poem facing the illustrations, I would drop the book's grade from 4 stars to 3 1/2. I'd then round back up for the sturdy construction, quality paper, and arresting cover.

Not only is this book about intense emotions, but it takes you on a trip through madness. All the pieces are so well interwoven that you come out of it trembling with the central character.

I had to memorize this poem years ago. For years I believed that everyone did. Maybe it's a shame that they didn't.

This is classic Poe. It's not long. It is tight, straight to the point, and foreboding. And that is not the reason to buy the book.

The book really worth buying because of the classic illustration's by Dore. They are fantastic. They perfectly catch the tone of the poem. In a time before movies, animated cartoons, or TV, these illustrations showed the poem that was being read (probably out loud by an adult). They worked then. They still work.

Your children, your grandchildren, and your siblings will enjoy it as much as you will.

This slim book does just one thing: it presents "The Raven," one of the best-recognized poems of the American tradition, with Doré's dark and errie illustrations.

The poem itself is so distinctive that even its meter, set to other words is still recognizable. Doré's engravings are not nearly so well known, however, but should be. Few other ways to print images on a commercial scale existed, back before photographic reproduction. Doré's illustration brought many other works to life as well, including Dante's Divine Comedy, Don Quixote, and even the Bible. His dramatic, emotive style of illustration not only embodies Poe's complex mood, it also raises that poem to the stature of the other world treasures to which Doré lent his talent.

Printing quality in this book meets Dover's usual, impeccable standards, despite this book's affordability. Then, since only one engraving appears per 9x12" (22.5x30cm) page, the fine reproduction makes it possible to read much of the detail an original engraving would have offered. Graphic novel fans might also find something of historical interest here, as one of the great-grandparents of the visual tradition leading to today's illustrated fiction. This one is easy to enjoy in many ways, so dig in.

-- wiredweird

To anyone who loves Edgar's poetry, the Dore illustrations bring to life the creatures and characters found throughout his poems.

The poem, The Raven, was a reall scary peom. If you are 11 or 12, read the book, The Man Who Was Poe. It's also scary.

Sure, amybe I didn't really understand this poem, but who needs to? I loved the way the words sort of came off of the page and into your mind, and how it made you use your imagination in order to understand it. That made it all the more creepy. I'm not sure if the movie THE CROW was sort of based on the poem, but I know that it(the poem) is quoted, and that the movie was excellent.