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Reader Reviews 3 of 4 people found the following review helpful: Quintessential Poe, March 24, 2000 Reviewer: Marlon Reis from Boulder, Colorado In an age defined by its thist for material glamour and financial success, "Edgar Allan Poe: Poetry, Tales, and Selected Essays" is a refreshing reclamation of class and importance. Indeed, one rarely finds a volume more indicative of artistic essence, or more faithful to the memory of great literary genius than this unassuming compendium. Moreover, "Poetry, Tales, and Selected Essays" demonstrates a peerless selection of Poe's greatest work. The seasoned Poe-reader will find cause, after sufficient perusal, to conclude that few works are able to illustrate Poe in so honest a light. Perhaps most admirable is the pursuit of fusion between Poe's fiction and nonfiction. Where many publications approach the mixture in unbecoming fashion, "Poetry, Tales, and Selected Essays" achieves an equilibrium wherein the literature may be viewed as a consequence of the principles discussed in each literary essay. In this way, the essays dovetail with the fiction beautifully, and the reader comes away blessed with a more catholic concept of Poe's genius. This effort at capturing Poe's essence is both commendable and enjoyable. Truly, it is an indispensable purchase for the avid Poe-reader.
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