Text: Edward H. Elwell, “Edgar A. Poe,” Portland Transcript (Portland, ME), vol. 13, no. 27, October 20, 1849, p. 6, col. 2

[page 6, column 2, continued:]

EDGAR A POE .

The death of this wayward child of genius, which we announced last week, has produced a sensation in the literary world. Mr. Poe's short life — he was but 38 years old at the time of his death — was an eventful one, full of strange adventures, the results of stranger freaks and whims. He was an excellent critic, and where his prejudices did not blind his better judgment, impartial in his decisions. He had a quick eye for the beautiful in nature, and a most fertile imagination. His powers as a versifier were great, having a complete command of the whole army of words. The “Raven” exhibits his powers in this way, and will probably be the production by which he will be remembered. His stories are remarkable for the graphic descriptive power displayed in them. The chief fault of his literary productions is the want of an end and aim, as the great fault of his character was the want of a steady ballast of principles. His slashing criticisms created him many enemies, whose vengeance he seemed rather to court than to avoid.

His death was probably induced by the irregularities of his life, and it furnishes another melancholly [[melancholy]] instance of the self-destructive tendencies of un regulated genius.