Today, January 19th, 2019 was the 210th birthday of American author Edgar Allan Poe. In honor of his birthday, Russell Atwood of Blue Umbrella Books transformed himself into Poe and held a day long event at Blue Umbrella Books in downtown Westfield that featured DJ Sean Martin playing gothic music and audio readings of Poe's work, Bob Plasse reading Poe's The Telltale Heart, glass artist Hugh Naggar creating special glass miniatures- I saw a raven perched in a tree. The birthday party concluded with a special edition of Ghost Stories Live! with cast members reading a few of Poe's poems and short stories. I read Hop-Frog, a tale of revenge. Jessica Martin read the haunting Annabel Lee. Poe (Russell) read A Dream Within A Dream and The Conquerer Worm.
It was somewhat surreal seeing Russell looking so uncannily like Poe. I thoroughly enjoyed my two visits to the Blue Umbrella book shop today. Several WhipCity Wordsmith members attended so it was nice to see my authors/writers group members supporting events at the bookshop.
It made me want to read more of Poe's work. He's best known for his compelling horror stories, and of course the iconic The Raven poem. However, there was also a humorous side to Poe, a certain satirical cheekiness. He could be acerbic, cutting, and even mean-spirited in his reviews of other authors work, or with critics of his own work...but sometimes, reading his satirical pieces, one gets the feeling Poe walked on the razor's edge and sometimes got himself nicked for his daring to do so.
He had a morbid bent of mind, a psychological darkness shadowing him that was revealed in his darker tales. They were sensational in their era. They remain curiously disturbing over a century and half later.
I enjoyed the event, feeling as if I might have been rubbing elbows with the spirit of Mr. Poe this evening.
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