Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Edgar Allan Poe

The following is an archived discussion of a featured article nomination. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the article's talk page or in Wikipedia talk:Featured article candidates. No further edits should be made to this page.

The article was promoted 01:51, 21 January 2008.

[edit] Edgar Allan Poe

previous FAC: Archive 1 | Archive 2

Nomination restarted (Old nom) Raul654 (talk) 22:38, 7 January 2008 (UTC)

• CommentsSupport Looks pretty good. Here are some initial comments:
• and is considered part of the American Romantic Movement. what part specifically did he play in the American Romantic movement?
• Poe and his works influenced literature in the United States and around the world, as well as in specialized fields, such as cosmology and cryptography. Poe and his work appear throughout popular culture in literature, music, films, and television. A number of his homes are dedicated museums today. scrap this whole part, and just do a much better paragraph about his legacy.
• As Poe began his literary career, he would soon be forced to constantly make humiliating pleas for money and other assistance for the rest of his life. Reads awkward.
• On May 16, 1836, he had a second marriage in Richmond with Virginia Clemm, this time in public. Maybe rephrase it? It wasn't a second marriage, but a second ceremony (perhaps?) and done publicly because ___.
• The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym was published and widely reviewed in 1838. How about quoting some of the reviews, particularly interesting and revealing ones? Maybe one review that was helpful and one that wasn't? Also maybe this should be a section? Also describe that this is his only complete novel, his first novel, and did it earn money? how many copies were first printed? was it a dud, did it have a following? elaboration here would be great.
• Also in 1839, the collection Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque was published in two volumes, though he made little money off of it and it received mixed reviews. so his novel is widely reviewed, and his collection has mixed reviews. Perhaps you could illustrate a little better how they were received by critics?
• Maybe: mention if he was best known for his collections and never really took off as a novelist. Also, you don't mention his first novel in the lede.
• Meaning in literature, he said in his criticism, should be an undercurrent just beneath the surface; works with obvious meanings cease to be art. This sentence could be rephrased to read easier.
• Poe was one of the first American authors of the 19th century to become more popular in Europe. more popular in Europe than previous American authors? or than in his own country?
• Even so, Poe has not received only praise. maybe instead characterize introductory-like the criticism leveled at him? because there is praise, and then there is everything else.
• Friedman's initial interest in cryptography came from reading "The Gold-Bug" as a child - interest he later put to use in deciphering Japan's PURPLE code during World War II. an em-dash or an en-dash may be appropriate here. See WP:DASH.
• In Boston, a plaque hangs near the building where Poe was born once stood. maybe rephrase to... a plaque hangs nearby the grounds where a building once stood in which Poe was born... or something.
• Though the name has changed and it is now known as The Horse You Came In On, local lore insists that a ghost they call "Edgar" haunts the rooms above. this could read easier.

I don't know Poe well, or really at all, so I enjoyed reading this, but perhaps someone with more familiarity with the subject can do a review on the accuracy of this article. Very well-written IMHO.-BillDeanCarter (talk) 02:45, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

I have put in my support for this excellent article on Poe.-BillDeanCarter (talk) 06:34, 11 January 2008 (UTC)

• Support. A great article, very well-referenced. -- King of ♥ ♦ ♣ ♠ 07:15, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

• Comments Support I continue to believe that this excellent article can achieve FA status with just a bit more work:

• Poe and his works influenced literature in the United States and around the world, as well as in specialized fields, such as cosmology and cryptography. Poe and his work appear throughout popular culture in literature, music, films, and television. A number of his homes are dedicated museums today. - This lead paragraph needs to explain Poe's legacy more specifically.
• Many of his works are generally considered part of the dark romanticism genre, a literary reaction to transcendentalism,[76] which Poe strongly disliked. - Can you explain this a bit more, say in a sentence or two?
• I think that the "Physics and cosmology" section is best included under "Literary style and themes".

• I still think this should be moved as the section does not explain a legacy Poe had in this area. If he did have an influence, the section should explain it. However, I tend to think that some sort of "Scientific theories" section under "Literary style and themes" would be better since the editor has rightly identified this as an important topic in Poe's works. Awadewit | talk 03:47, 17 January 2008 (UTC)

• I am not convinced that Eureka "anticipated" the Big Bang theory (I looked at the source the article cites and I don't think it supports such a statement). I think the wording has to be more precise there.
• The first few sentences of "Literary theory" can be condensed.
• I would move the "Poe toaster" section to the "Museum" section and rename that section. The Poe toaster, as part of Poe fan culture, seems closer to museums, etc. than to Poe's "Legacy" (current location). Currently, the "Legacy" section feels a bit disparate.

I look forward to supporting this article very soon! Awadewit | talk 07:43, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

• My remaining concerns are relatively minor. Awadewit | talk 03:47, 17 January 2008 (UTC)

• Support My previous concerns have been addressed. Karanacs (talk) 15:06, 8 January 2008 (UTC)
• Support. Very enjoyable read. --Moni3 (talk) 15:09, 8 January 2008 (UTC)

Today is Poe's 199th birthday. You know what would make a great birthday present for him? Promoting this article to featured. :) Thanks for all the support folks! I tried to take care of as many of your suggestions as possible. I didn't respond here because I was afraid I would get defensive or put my foot in my mouth. So, don't think I was ignoring any of you. Anyway, happy birthday, Eddy. --Midnightdreary (talk) 13:21, 19 January 2008 (UTC)

The above discussion is preserved as an archive. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the article's talk page or in Wikipedia talk:Featured article candidates. No further edits should be made to this page.