The Poe Shadow
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| The Poe Shadow | |
| Author | Matthew Pearl |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Mystery novel |
| Publisher | Random House |
| Publication date | 2006 |
| Media type | Hardcover (first edition) |
| Pages | 384 pp (first edition hardcover) |
| ISBN | ISBN 1-4000-6103-2 |
| Preceded by | The Dante Club |
The Poe Shadow is a novel by Matthew Pearl published by Random House. It tells the story of one young lawyer's quest to solve the mystery of Edgar Allan Poe's death in 1849. It is a work of historical and literary fiction, where some previously unpublished details about the last days of Poe are conveyed through the thoughts and the actions of the main character, along with the generally shared ideas on Poe's death as of the publication date.
[edit] Plot summary
Baltimore lawyer Quentin Hobson Clark witnesses a somber, simple funeral on October 8, 1849. He learns it was for author Edgar Allan Poe, with whom he had previously exchanged letters about providing legal support for a new publication, The Stylus. Clark feels obliged to look into the mysterious circumstances surrounding Poe's death, despite protests from his fiancee Hattie Blum and his brother Peter. Clark's journey takes him to Paris to seek out the real-life inspiration for Poe's character C. Auguste Dupin, a man of intellect who could help unravel the mystery.
[edit] See also
- Death of Edgar Allan Poe
- Edgar Allan Poe in popular culture, Poe as a character
