The Raven was brewed in honour of the great American writer, Edgar Allan
Poe, who, through his pen, eloquently expressed himself like no other. Through his
exquisite poems, short stories and criticisms, Poe captured the imagination of the world.
The Raven is brewed in Baltimore, the home of Poe, in honour of this classic poem. A
master of the macabre, Poe is captured in The Raven.
Edgar Allan Poe, 1809-1849, The American short-story writer, poet, editor,
publisher and literary critic whose masterful work led to the creation of The Raven beer
in his honor.
Poe was born in Boston on January 19, 1809 and the grandson of a Baltimore Revolutionary
War patriot, David Poe Sr. Orphaned at three years of age, he was raised by a Richmond
merchant, John Allan, and later took Allan as his middle name. Educated at a private
school in England (1815-1820), Poe then entered the University of Virginia, but soon left
to pursue a literary career. In 1827, he published anonymously at his expense 'Tamerlane
and Other Poems'. As a result of tension between Edgar and his stepfather, Poe entered the
military under an assumed name and then to West Point Military Academy in 1830, but was
dismissed the following year for neglecting his duty.
 He returned to
Baltimore to live again with aunt, Maria Poe Clemm in a home located on Amity street. It
was here that Poe began to write short stories instead of poetry. He soon won a $50 prize
offered by a Baltimore newspaper for "MS Found in a Bottle" in 1833. This
eventually landed him editorial position on the Southern Literary Messenger (1835). The
same year, Edgar's grandmother, Elizabeth died and he moved to Richmond in 1836.
That year he married his 13-year old cousin and Poe had published numerous reviews,
essays, poems and stories. He moved to New York and then to Philadelphia where he wrote
'The Fall of the House of Usher' (1839) and 'Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque' (1840).
The same year he began his own journal, The Penn and its failure led to him becoming
literary editor of Graham's Magazine (1841-42) to which he contributed 'Murders in the Rue
Morgue', 'The Imp of the Perverse', and 'The Masque of the Red Death'.
In 1843, he freelanced 'The Tell-Tale Heart', 'The Black Cat', 'The Pit and the Pendulum'
and the prize winning 'The Gold Bug'. In 1845, Poe purchased the Broadway Journal and
published 'Tales' and 'The Raven'. The Journal folded in 1845 and his young wife died in
1847.
The strain of business failures and the tragic death of his wife from consumption led to a
nervous breakdown and to his early death in Baltimore in 1849. Published in his later
years were the philosophical poem 'Eureka' and the poems 'Ulalume', and 'Annabel Lee'.
The cause of his death remains a mystery. Despite many theories surrounding his death
(e.g., alcohol, liver disease and recently rabies), no exact cause has ever been proven.
His remains now rest along with his wife and aunt under a monument dedicated to him in
Westminster Graveyard in downtown Baltimore.
"This place gives
me the creeps!"
Vincent Price, 1977
|
Once upon a midnight dreary,
while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore--
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
" 'T is some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door---
Only this and nothing more.". . .
E. Allan Poe, 1845
|
And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber
door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted-- nevermore! |
Surely, Poe would agree-- Forevermore.
|
| |
 |
Poe Links | Museum |
