The Invention of Poe (Annotated)

This audiobook explores the complex mythology surrounding Edgar Allan Poe, who, following his death in 1849, was subject to a damaging obituary by Rufus Wilmot Griswold, his literary executor and rival. It examines the layers of misinformation that contributed to Poe's posthumous image, featuring primary documents such as letters, obituaries, and critical essays, as well as the voices of those who contested Griswold's narrative. The collection reveals how subsequent biographers further shaped Poe's legacy, illustrating the intricate process through which he became a cultural icon, while the original man remains elusive. Through critical analysis, it provides insights into the nature of literary mythmaking within American literature.