Mrs. Poe A Novel by Lynn Cullen

I was captured by the sophisticated, beautiful, old-fashioned, rich cover of Mrs. Poe A Novel

by Lynn Cullen. That lady was fixating me as if she would inviting me to read her story.

I was intrigued.

Who was Mrs. Poe? And why the author picked up this title when substantially the one told in this book was an affair?

Edgar Allan Poe was a singular man with a devastating childhood in grade to affect also the rest of his existence; maybe because he wrote horror tales in grade to keep awaken people during the night, maybe because he had an introvert, mysterious character, people felt him as a "distant" soul although, charismatic.

Some nasty literary critics tried their best for destryingd him adding that he lived with a lot of addictions, the first one alcohol. It was true that to Poe drinking was a great temptation.

The story starts after the publication of The Raven, the consacration of this writer in the Olymp of literature and poetry. Poe is remembered because of horror tales, but his writings spaced in many existential sectors; he was a writer but also a reporter, a journalist, someone curious of the most diversified aspect of the existence.

Sure he was morbid and weird. When he understood that maybe he would have lost his favorite cousin Virginia he did all his best for marrying her and this girl was still 13 years old. It is still uncertain if they had any kind of physical contact, but Poe, 'till the end of the unlucky existence of this girl, died for tubercolosis, consumption, will assist her with great devotion, admitting at some point in this book that it was completely absurb to marrying a cousin. He understood that he was an uncommon person, and someone with some internal, serious, conflictual problems.

The story starts, facts are reals and documented,  in the winter of 1845 with a worried Frances Osgood, a writer and poet who married a man, a painter, Samuel, who didn't love her and quickly abandoned her and the two children they had had for another girl.  She must returns to write and earning money. Her writings are not appreciated a lot because what now editors want are writings like the ones of Mr.Poe.

Mrs. Osgood had read The Raven as everyone else; it was what editors wanted for people. What readers had to appreciate. Some horror, some mysterious stories.She tried with a fallen angels's story but it wasn't demoniac enough. Angels are angels also when they fall for a reason or another on this Earth.

In the literary circle where Frances Osgood loved to spend time,  populated by the most important writers, poets of the moment and owned by Miss Lynch, one day the guest-honor was Mr.Poe accompany by his child-wife, mrs Virginia Poe.

The introvert character of the man, this kind of fear and attraction that felt immediately Frances Osgood became soon an obsession.

Edgar, or Eddie as Mrs. Poe called his husband, invited mrs.Osgood to their house for spending some time with his wife. It would have been good to her to talk to someone.

But, you know...

Slowly the two, Mr.Poe and Frances became friends, and not too late as tells superbly Cullen, lovers.

Lynn Cullen wrote: "...When I looked back, he grasped me to him. He gazed down upon me as if to devour me, then with a groan, seized me to his lips."

The story becomes pretty known; or better it is whispered and Frances Osgood tries all her best for not manifesting publicly her feelings for mr.Poe with which she shares also her poems.

A story like this one can't never have a happy end and there will be also a temptative of murder...

Frances Osgood will wait a baby by Edgar Allan Poe. This baby later will be recognized as the legitimate child of Samuel, her painter husband, in the while back home.

The end will see Poe and the wife in a distant and remote place without wood for keeping warm the house and friends trying to be helpful.

Mrs. Poe, Virginia, died on 1847 and it will be this one the moment of biggest creativity for the poet, journalist and writer; always that year the baby Poe had had from Frances died at 16 months.  

On 1849 died Edgar Allan Poe and on 1850 the lover, Frances Osgood. The impressive departures continues with the ones of the rest of the children of Frances; May Vincent and Ellen died of tubercolosis on 1851, the year after that their mother passed away.

Their dad, Samuel, good news, became old!

This one is the first book I read written by Lynn Cullen. She is splendid and researched. Personally I would have preferred for keeping more precious and devastating the story of Frances and Edgar, less dialogues; but maybe this choices has been the best one, because after all the thematic is very heavy, and characters, situations lived, not the simplest ones for that age.

Plus, let's add this, Edgar Allan Poe wasn't not the sunniest character of this world.

I warmly suggest to everyone this book. The two Mrs. Poes want to let you know their stories.

Anna Maria Polidori