Text: Anonymous, “[Review of Poe's Works],” Sunday Dispatch (New York), vol. 5, no. 7, January 13, 1850, p. 2, col. 9

[page 2, column 9:]

Current Literature.

The Works of Edgar Allan Poe with notices of his life and genius, by N. P. Willis. J. R. Lowell and R. W. Griswold. 2 vols., pp. 947. New York. J. S. Redfield, Clinton Hall, publisher.

Instead of a carefully prepared biography of E. A. Poe, which we had a right to expect, we have a rehash from Lowell, Griswold aud Willis, — three literary cooks, claiming a place on the title page, while they confess that they were too lazy to earn it. Lowell wrote a notice of Poe's life and writings for Graham's Magazine, five years ago. The notice is re-printed, in these volumes. Griswold wrote a column for the Tribune, when the announcement of Poe's death reached this city. The Tribune column occupies two or three pages of the book and Willis adds a letter or two (originally printed in the Home Journal) from Poe, addressed to — “My Dear Willis.” This is the way that Poe's literary executors have served him. Too lazy, or too feeble, to do justice to the departed genius, they crowd in their second hand stuff — crude enough when new — and leave Poe to vindicate himself. Happily for his memory, the dead lion can bear bravely up against the three living asses. The volume contains the better part of Poe's writings, his finest poems — “the Raven,” “Ulalume,” “The Bells,” his tales, sketches, philosophical dessertations [[dissertations]], &c. Many of these productions have been read wherever types have penetrated — yet we are glad to have them collected in two such handsome volumes. The publisher have [[has]] done ample justice to the departed author — we wish we could say as much for the editors — and we trust that the public demand for the work will be large enough to accomplish the purpose of its issue. The profits of the sale go to Mrs. Clemm, the mother-in-law of Mr. Poe, — almost the only one to love and watch over the wayward child of genius in the later years of his life.