Edgar Allan Poe (Leopard Classics)

Product Description <br/><br/><br/>The creator of unforgettable tales of horror that remain classics to this day, Edgar Allan Poe may be best-known as a nineteenth-century short-story writer, but he was also a great poet who composed verses that expressed his emotions and feelings. More than twenty of his poems are brought to a new generation of readers with colorful illustrations and easy-to-understand notes that will encourage the enjoyment and appreciation of a great talent. Selections include the famous, spine-tingling “The Raven” and “Annabel Lee.”<br/><br/><br/> From Publishers Weekly <br/>Following its treatment of Robert Frost and Emily Dickinson, Sterling adds two more titles on American masters to the Poetry for Young People series: Carl Sandburg, edited by Frances Schoonmaker Bolin, illustrated by Steven Arcella, and Edgar Allan Poe, edited by Brod Bagert, illustrated by Carolynn Cobleigh. Each poem is accompanied by definitions of difficult words ($14.95 each, 48p, ages 7-up ISBN 0-8069-0818-1; -0820-3 May).<br/>Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.<br/> Review <br/>"Nothing short of breathtaking." - Parents Magazine"<br/> From the Publisher <br/>Founded in 1906 by J.M. Dent, the Everyman Library has always tried to make the best books ever written available to the greatest number of people at the lowest possible price. Unique editorial features that help Everyman Paperback Classics stand out from the crowd include: a leading scholar or literary critic's introduction to the text, a biography of the author, a chronology of her or his life and times, a historical selection of criticism, and a concise plot summary. All books published since 1993 have also been completely restyled: all type has been reset, to offer a clarity and ease of reading unique among editions of the classics; a vibrant, full-color cover design now complements these great texts with beautiful contemporary works of art. But the best feature must be Everyman's uniquely low price. Each Everyman title offers these extensive materials at a price that competes with the most inexpensive editions on the market-but Everyman Paperbacks have durable binding, quality paper, and the highest editorial and scholarly standards.<br/> From the Inside Flap <br/>Edgar Allan Poe is perhaps best known as a writer of mystery tales. However, he was also of great importance as a poet -- a serious craftsman who influenced many later writers and himself took bold, imaginative strides into the future.<br/><br/>While some of his poems have the macabre overtones of his stories, others are simple, lyrical expressions of emotion evoking a timeless and haunting quality.<br/><br/>This selection of his verse is accompanied throughout by watercolours painted by Edmund Dulac for The Bells and Other Poems by Edgar Allan Poe, 1912.<br/> From School Library Journal <br/>Grade 5 Up?While both volumes offer a spacious format; a wide variety of poems; and colorful, interpretive illustrations, Sandburg is by far the stronger of the two. Poe suffers from the editor's explanations of what each poem means and from the inclusion of 8 prose passages placed in verse form, along with the 13 legitimate poems. Bagert's commentaries dampen rather than spark the imagination, and the doctored prose creates confusion between Poe's poems and tales. The realistic paintings are of uneven quality; the small vignettes are more effective than the full-page renderings. The 33 poems in Sandburg vary in length and theme, but most are the staples of anthologies, e.g., "Fog," "Arithmetic," and "We Must Be Polite." The surrealistic illustrations, which appear to be rendered in pastels, are appealing; the soft edges and warm tones work well with Sandburg's imagery. Both books include a biographical sketch of the poet, footnotes providing definitions of difficult words, and a title index.?Pat Katka, San Diego Public Library<br/>Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.<br/> About the Author <br/><br/>Brod Bagert has written 15 books