Garth,

We all know Poe had enemies and because of the nature of his work, Poe's enemies were naturally, more often than not, writers and media men. Few know that it was Horace Greeley, the most important newspaper editor in the U.S., who published the 'Ludwig' libelous obit by Griswold in his N.Y. Tribune. Greeley wrote Griswold specifically asking if there was anything to be done to stop Poe's marriag to Helen Whitman. Greeley employed Margaret Fuller (and she lived with him for months) who was involved in the Ellet/Osgood affair which almost got Poe killed by a protective male (which is how Elizabeth Oakes-Smith said Poe actually died). Greeley was crazy and was secretly involved in a business scheme with Boss Tweed.  Biographers portray Greeley as a good, progressive-thinking man, but of course there's always more than meets the dull biographer's eye.  Snodgrass of the Baltimore Sun is blithely referred to as Poe's 'friend' but this relationship needs a closer look.

The irony here is that Poe may have been murdered by employees of the Baltimore Sun, Snodgrass and Walker.  I realize this is highly speculative, but hey, it's Edgar Allan Poe, people! 

Another piece of Poe publicity, specifically on Poe's continued influence on film.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/jan/23/1

Here are some items from The Baltimore Sun:
-- A story on actor John Astin, who played Gomez on The Addams Family and now is featured in the city's Poe tribute show. http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bal-al.poe18jan18,0,156425.story
-- Poe-related photos from our archive http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/photos/2009/01/edgar_allan_poes_200th_birthda.html
-- The latest on the "Poe toaster" http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bal-poetoaster0119,0,2772228.story
-- All Poe posts on the Read Street blog -- including a Poe paper doll! http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/books/blog/edgar_allan_poe/

Dave



-- Edited by Garth at 22:26, 2009-01-20

Happy 200th to a Madman Genius (Vancouver Sun)