In the Shadow of Edgar Allan Poe [Hardcover]

Jonathon Scott Fuqua (Author), Stephen John Phillips (Author), Steve Park (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

In The Shadow of Edgar Allen Poe is a precariously-balanced walk down the thin line between genius and insanity written by award-winning novelist Jonathan Scott Fuqua (The Reappearance of Sam Webber) and features the photographic art of Stephen John Phillips & Steven Parke (VEILS and I, PAPARAZZI).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Vertigo (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563899280
• ISBN-13: 978-1563899287
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 6.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,691,447 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars In the Shadow of Rufus W. Griswold..., November 3, 2002

By 

Laurie Coxon (Rio Rancho, NM United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Shadow of Edgar Allan Poe (Hardcover)

Though beautifully done in many ways, I feel that this book should have been entitled: IN THE SHADOW OF RUFUS W. GRISWOLD. Just two days after Poe's death, Griswold, his bitter rival, wrote his "Obituary", and later "Memoir", in his edition of Poe's works, in 1850. "His abusive and slanderous characterization of Poe became the unofficial biographical record for the 19th Century"...(Poe Encyclopedia, 1997). It is obvious that it still seems to be continued in the defamation of Poe's character to this day, as is, I feel portrayed by the storyline in this book.

Having been a Poe scholar for years, I'm disappointed that the effort used to create this book didn't focus more on his creative abilities, showing his tremendous talent. He gave us the detective genre. He was a fierce, but truthful critic and editor. Just check out a chronology of his works. It's obvious that he did more in his 40 years, than just sit around getting drunk, and seducing his aunt.

His gentle side is, of course, spoken of in the countless letters, memoirs and testimonies written by his friends and loved ones during his life, and especially after his death, when his defenders tried to dispel Griswold's lies.

I am very impressed with the graphics, art work and photography that was created in this book. My only objection is the inaccurate information regarding his life. I hate misrepresentation. (Think of how YOU would feel...) There is so much research information available which, I feel could have been used to DISPEL the worn out, recycled lies that have plagued him for over 150 years.

Those of us who admire and respect him will continue to defend his reputation and honor his memory.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Does a Disservice to the Author it Intends to Honor, November 4, 2002

By 

Jason N. Mical (Bellevue, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In the Shadow of Edgar Allan Poe (Hardcover)

I should preface this review by saying that I've loved Poe since I was a kid. I think Poe appeals to the young and romantics (and the two are not dissimilar - there is an admirable innocence in both), and why not? He was obviously a genius, who applied his incredible talents to the women he loved and idolized, and his own tortured, almost perpetually-adolescent soul is the definition of angst. Therefore, my connection with Poe is sentimental as much as it is "fun" and scholarly.

Which is all to say that I picked up a copy of "In the Shadow of Edgar Allan Poe" as soon as it became available. An unusual graphic novel - in the same style as "I, Paparazzi" which Stephen John Phillips also photographed - "Shadow" purports to be a "diary" left by Poe, rediscovered by a literary scholar teetering on the edge of decay. Poe's diary lays out in graphic detail that the man was not simply haunted by the "demons" of bipolar disorder and alcoholism, but actual demonic spirits that granted Poe his abilities at the cost of his health, his loved ones, and eventually his life.

On one hand, this makes a great addition to the Poe pantheon. What better explanation for a genius' macabre work than to explain it away by true supernatural forces? On the other hand, it sells Poe and that very genius short - what way to better insult one of the English languages finest authors than to claim that he wasn't responsible for his own work - that strange creatures from another dimension wrote it instead. Something about that doesn't sit well with me; one of the things take makes genius, literary and otherwise, so amazing is that people can sit and say, "he (or she) is one of US. A person, another human being, did THAT." If you explain it away with divine (or profane, as the case might be) inspiration, much of the effect is lost.

Not that "Shadow" is a bad book - far from it. Fuqua nailed Poe's writing style exactly, and the photography and graphic manipulation give it an otherworldly feel so familiar to those who "know Poe." There was obviously more than a little research involved in "Shadow," and both the story and the illustrations reflect a sincere desire to honor the author. Unfortunately - and maybe it's my own personal bias - "Shadow" ends up discrediting the very author to whom it pays tribute.

That being said, read at your own risk. Whether you agree with their premise or not, it's still worth a look.

Final Grade: C+

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not quite Poe, but good nonetheless, July 9, 2003

By 

Rob V (Mass) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In the Shadow of Edgar Allan Poe (Hardcover)

"In The Shadow of Edgar Allan Poe" is a superb graphic novel, certainly unique in its style. The photographic art is a great concept and it works very well with this "real" story of Edgar Poe. Unfortunately, as an avid scholar of Poe, I still cringe when reading this story, which is great despite its inaccuracies.

First and foremost, the perverted love triangle between Edgar, his wife Virginia, and aunt "Muddy" was a rumor created in passing after Poe's death by his sort of arch-nemesis Rufus Griswold, and there has never been any record to prove it as truth. Additionally, the story continues a variety of false truths of Edgar's life, including his moody character. Readers should be aware that an artist's work is not necessarily a reflection of the artist's life. If that were the case, perhaps it is Jonathon Scott Fuqua, and not Poe, that is plagued by demons.

Overall, this is a great read with a highly innovative art style. Just don't use it as source material for your studies of Poe.