This is the iconic image of Edgar Allan Poe. It is what everyone pictures when he comes to mind. This powerful portrait conflates his image as an author with the scope of his work. The great power that he is able to present to his audience comes across in his picture. It is not unreasonably that someone that possesses great severity creates such wonderfully grotesque and dark work.

    This resource is an example of the variety of his work. The book lists all the different types of writing found in the Poe collection of the Columbia University library in 1909. His various stories and poems can be found in collections or single volumes. The interesting fact about this object is that it is now found at the University of Virginia Library and that it previously belonged to Harvard University in 1910, one hundred years ago. The book was originally a reference "intended to meet their interest in this American author which has been revived and increased by the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of his birth." The book also demonstrates the acclaim he had accrued by 1909. Several biographies and critical analysis of his work had already been produced by then. It also mentions that part of his criticism in the Southern Literary Messenger is also part of their collection. However, the most interesting point of this reference is the last statement of the work. Apparently, the mantelpiece of the room in which Poe wrote "The Raven" was kept in the office of the librarian an could be seen through application.

    The Murders in the Rue Morgue is acclaimed as the first detective story. The tale surrounds C. Auguste Dupin as he tries to unravel the inexplicable murders of two women. Witnesses claim to have heard a voice but it did not speak in a language they knew. He finds a hair that he does not believe to be human and asks if anyone has seen an orangutan. He is visited by a sailor that says he had an orangutan that escaped with his razor and entered the women's room through a window and killed them.

    This NINES object of the manuscript of the The Murders in the Rue Morgue is an amazing find. This facsimile of Poe's manuscript portrays all the care that he put into his work. One would imagine his drafts to be chaotic but this edition shows he is very careful about what he writes, particularly his word choice. Notice the edited title; this shows how particular he was about the mood he created in his work.

      Poe's early career is comprised of his reviews and editorials. During the time that Poe worked for the Southern Literary Messenger, he grew to be considered one of the premiere critics of his time. Many must have dread to hear what he would say of their work for his opinion was held in high regard. However, he knew how to use his position and skill to their highest advantage. When he grew interested in the young poet, Frances Osgood, he paired his honest criticism of her work with high praise for her womanhood. In doing this, he knew that he could gain favor with her. The NINES object excerpt of his writings, even though it is short, along with the description of his collection at the Southern Literary Messenger as a whole, portrays the way in which Poe was able to clearly state and support his opinions, even if, in some cases, he may have had some ulterior motive to write them.

    Although Edgar Allan Poe is well known for his wide body of work, a single poem embodies his essence. "The Raven" describes a raven's visit to man and catalogs the way in which he falls slowly into madness. The raven increasingly taunts the man's state of mind with its repetition of the infamous word, "Nevermore." It is highly stylized and, through its allusions, demonstrates the breadth of Poe's knowledge along with his extensive skill over language. In the outlasting success of "The Raven," it would seem that Poe's greatest wish has been accomplished. He exalted his poetry as his greatest work for he believed that poetry was the truest form of expression. Poetry is smart and thoughtful and much harder to accomplish brilliantly than prose. He took pride in his poems because he was able to create a structure that could enhance the overall feel of the subject. He could create moods, and present ideas in interesting ways and evoke feelings that could not be expressed in other forms. Needless to say, "The Raven" is one of the world's most famous poems and it stands out as something uniquely American and will continue to be thought of as the quintessential Edgar Allan Poe work.