The Lighthouse at the End of the World"Here is an extraordinary tour de force of narrative suspense, historical realism, and surreal enchantment, a novel that rivals its hero's greatest tales as, with phantasmagorical power, it spins its story on two separate but inexorably converging levels. On the one, we are in a superbly evoked nineteenth-century America, as Edgar Allan Poe tells of his nightmare youth, of his obsession with the thirteen-year-old first cousin whom he makes his child bride, of his public triumphs and his private demons. On the other, we are with a phantom Poe living and loving in a Paris viewed through the tinted glasses of his fictional detective, the immortal C. Auguste Dupin. Indeed, Dupin comes very much alive in these pages as he tracks Poe to America, bringing with him the icy logic bestowed upon him by his creator. Even as Poe lays bare the intimate details of his life, Dupin pitilessly exposes secrets of the psyche that are the keys to the ultimate mystery of self - and self-damnation. This is a detective story, a tale of horror, of adventure, of the sea, of fantasy, metaphysics, disintegrating personality, blighted love... all the threads of Poe's unique body of work woven together to meet his last and greatest challenge, the reinvention of himself."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved |
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arms asked began beginning believe brother called course dark dear door dream drink Dupin Eddie Edgar eyes face feel felt followed girl give Griswold hair half hand happened head hear heard Henry horse hour idol John knew lamp later laughed leave less letter light live looked Maia Mary mean Miss Monk Moran morning Muddy never night Obadiah once Panchatan Paris passed perhaps question rain reached remember Rufus seemed seen Shard side smile soon sound speak stand stood stop story street tale Tangerie tell thing Thomas thought told took turned Virginia voice waited walked wall watched wind window wish woman write wrote Yaanek York young
References to this book
Encyclopedia of American Literature of the Sea and Great Lakes Jill B. Gidmark No preview available - 2001 |