Edgar Allan Poe is one of my favorite authors.

I throughly enjoyed going through his life again and learning more about him.
It really was engaging and a fascinating way to do so.

Would recommend to those wanting to know more about the famous author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Very informative. The Kindle version was hard to read at times, though, with the different font colors. Overall, I liked the structure and illustrations. Love me some Poe.

What captivates the reader most in Levi Lionel Leland’s biography of Edgar Allan Poe is the deeply evocative tone; Leland doesn’t merely recount the events of Poe’s life but invites the reader to step into the very heart of his haunting existence. The prose is not just immersive; it envelops the reader in a rich, atmospheric embrace, elegantly blurring the lines between historical fact and emotional depth. You’re not simply learning about Poe; you’re wandering through the shadowy corridors of his psyche, feeling the heavy burdens of his struggles and the flickering light of his triumphs. As a long-time admirer of Edgar Allan Poe, I was aflame with anticipation when chosen as an ARC reader for this biography, especially considering the profound impact Poe’s work has had on my own brand, Nevermore Lane.

This concise yet powerfully impactful volume paints an exquisite, gothic-inspired tableau of Poe’s life and literary endeavors, making it a delightful exploration even for those who may only have a cursory familiarity with his intricate history. Leland deftly shines a light on pivotal moments in Poe’s tumultuous personal life and brilliant literary career, weaving together hauntingly poignant quotes, artfully selected excerpts from his eerie tales, and insightful commentary on his most celebrated works. The book is splendidly designed—its visual elements not only complement the text but elevate it, transforming Levi Lionel Leland’s biography into a striking and atmospheric homage to one of literature’s most enigmatic figures.

Rather than delivering a dry recital of dates and events, Leland breathes gothic life into Poe’s world, his prose infused with the same darkness, turmoil, and dramatic intensity that characterized Poe’s own writing. He navigates the intricate tapestry of Poe’s troubled genius with remarkable sensitivity, providing a nuanced exploration that neither romanticizes his suffering nor diminishes his artistic accomplishments. Leland delves into Poe’s formative experiences and literary successes, as well as the intense personal tragedies that indelibly shaped his worldview, offering profound insights into how Poe’s chaotic life intertwined with his art. For devoted fans of Poe’s works, Leland thoughtfully correlates biographical details with recurrent themes—such as grief, madness, and obsession—that ceaselessly haunt his most celebrated stories like "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Raven."

While readers in search of a strictly academic biography might find Leland’s narrative steeped in style, those drawn to literary nonfiction or captivated by the gothic will discover a hauntingly beautiful experience within these pages. This is a book that transcends mere information; it lingers in the imagination long after the final chapter has been turned. I found this compact, engaging read to provide a rich overview of Edgar Allan Poe’s multifaceted life. I particularly appreciated the enlightening illumination of his intricate backstory, which emphasizes the personal tragedies and relentless struggles that profoundly influenced his literary creations. Overall, it's a commendable introduction for readers new to the world of Poe or those in search of a swift yet comprehensive refresher on this literary giant.

Edgar Allan Poe (d.1849) is one of the most well-known of American writers. Indeed, he is reputed to be the first American writer to have made his living by writing alone, although it should be added that he spent most of his life struggling in abject poverty.

This ‘pocket portrait’ is a relatively comprehensive introduction to his life and his writings. One of the features which it does particularly well, is to weave his works into the narrative of his life. So, chapters on biography are interspersed with extracts from famous poems and writings.

The book aims to be an honest ‘warts and all’ approach, so it doesn’t gloss over matters such as Poe’s problems with alcohol and his wedding to a thirteen year old Virginia Eliza Clemm. But it also avoids the prejudice and nastiness of his first biographer, Griswold, who we now know to have deliberately blackened Poe’s name with unfounded allegations and nonsense. This book actually achieves a good balance between honesty and hagiography.

Where I would have liked a little more detail is about some of his non-poetic works. Poe’s poems are well embedded in the book, and the author’s admiration of the poetry shines through the prose. But some of his non-poetic works are hardly mentioned at all. For example, his essay on ‘The Poetic Principle’, which was published shortly after his death, is an interesting and important work, as it explains much of Poe’s mindset and methodological principles for writing poetry. But there is no discussion of that essay.

However, I think this is where the focus of the series becomes apparent. This is an introductory book to Poe, rather than a more academic and in-depth analysis. So, its coverage is a little broad-brush stroke in places. That is absolutely fine, but its focus is not entirely clear from the blurb.

Overall, this is an enjoyable and engaging introduction to Poe’s life and writings. It is pitched to be accessible for readers with no prior experience or background in Poe and it includes indices and suggestions of further reading to help introductory readers. The prose is accessible to older school children but there are also adult themes around death and suicide, which are prompted by events in Poe’s life.

These are honest opinions on a free digital (ARC) version of the text, made available for the purpose of review.

Levi Lionel Leland wrote an excellent, concise and fun to read pocket biography.
I encourage any Poe fan or not to read this biography and learn so much about
who Edgar Allan really was.

As a long-time admirer of Edgar Allan Poe, I was excited to be selected as an ARC reader for this biography, especially since Poe has deeply influenced my own brand, Nevermore Lane. This short volume delivers a gothic-inspired snapshot of Poe’s life and work, making it an accessible read for those unfamiliar with his history.

The book highlights major points in Poe’s personal life and literary career, interwoven with quotes, excerpts, and high-level commentary on his most iconic works. It is beautifully packaged and visually appealing, but I found myself wanting more substance and nuance.

While I appreciated the format and respect the author’s enthusiasm, I felt the narrative leaned too heavily on Poe’s most popular works without diving deeply into the darker complexities that shaped them. It serves as a solid primer, but longtime fans may find it too light to be truly illuminating.

Great for new readers or those looking for a quick, atmospheric read. For a deeper exploration of Poe’s tortured brilliance, additional sources will likely be needed.

Great job on this biography. I have always loved reading Poe so it was nice to read a concise biography about him and learn more about him as a person.

This was a compact, engaging read that gave a solid overview of Edgar Allan Poe’s life. I appreciated learning more about his complicated backstory, especially the personal tragedies and struggles that shaped his work. It’s a great introduction for readers new to Poe or those who want a quick refresher..
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this copy.

This is a beautifully written biography in which the author took great care to give Edgar Allen Poe the respect he deserves. A lot of great information is in this book and it can be enjoyed by anyone who doesn't like typical dry biographies as this is not one of those.

Levi Lionel Leland’s Edgar Allan Poe is a striking and atmospheric tribute to one of literature’s most enigmatic figures. Rather than being a dry biography, Leland breathes gothic life into Poe’s world—his prose tinged with the same darkness and drama that made Poe’s own writing unforgettable.

What stands out most is the tone: Leland doesn’t just recount Poe’s life, he feels it. The writing is immersive, rich with mood, often blurring the line between historical fact and emotional resonance. You’re not just reading about Poe—you’re stepping into the shadows he left behind.

Leland does a wonderful job of contextualizing Poe’s troubled genius without romanticizing his suffering. He explores Poe’s formative experiences, literary triumphs, and personal tragedies with sensitivity and style, offering insights into the ways Poe’s life bled into his art. And for fans of Poe’s works, Leland thoughtfully connects biographical details to the recurring motifs—grief, madness, obsession—that haunt stories like The Tell-Tale Heart and The Raven.

While readers looking for an academic biography might find the narrative approach a bit stylized, fans of literary nonfiction or those intrigued by the gothic will likely find it hauntingly beautiful. This is a book that doesn’t just inform—it lingers.

This is a beautifully curated book about a fascinating writer. I love his work and cant wait to read more of his stories and books.

Edgar Allan Poe is one of America's most famous writers. I am familiar with a couple of his works, The Raven and Tell-Tale Heart, I had no knowledge of the man himself. His life was interesting and The Master of the Macabre gives an in depth look into what is known about him and his mysterious death. I liked the snippets of his poems and stories at the end of the chapters that were about what led to Poe writing that particular poem.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC