Text: Hubert Bower, “Poe's Poem of ‘The Raven’,” Notes and Queries (London, UK), Third Series, vol. 6, October 8, 1864, vol. 6, no. 145, p. 298

POE'S POEM OF “THE RAVEN” (3” S. vi. 223.) — The persons who wish to convince us that this poem is a translation from the Persian, would do well to produce the Persian original. Until they accede to this request we shall believe, notwithstanding all their assertions, that they are stating their own fancies, or else downright untruths. When they produce the verses of the oriental MS., let the MS. be examined by competent persons, so that we may be sure it is older than the first publication of “The Raven.” Here we may fairly leave the matter for the present.

The poem is so intensely Western in its [column 2:] rhythm, its imagery, and its spirit — and agrees so thoroughly with the style, both in thought and diction, of Edgar Allan Poe's tales and other verses — that nothing but such positive proof as the above will be sufficient to make us rob him of the honour of its conception and authorship.

HUBERT BOWER.