Lots to enjoy--multiple story lines, dreams within dreams, excellent dialogue and prose. I grew up enthralled by Eddie, and imagine the man must have had his quirks. Hints to his works are plentiful, and the read is richer for recognizing them.

This is a 2 star not because it was bad but because I think this book told the wrong story. As imaginative as this interpretation of Edgar Allan Poe's life was, Nola was definitely a way more interesting character, at least the way the book presented her. I wish the last 50 pages had been the bulk of the book with the previous 200+ condensed to something else - perhaps more background than main plot.I would have enjoyed much more the alternate universe adventures of Poe and Nola rather than a sl...

This book is not for the those looking to be numbed by entertainment. The multiple level story is a dream within a dream within a dream and the story lines are tangled and difficult to sort out.i walked away not quite sure of what I had read feeling like I somehow "missed the point".So 4 stars seems high for a book that left confused and unsatisfied right? Well, it might have been if I reviewed immediately after reading but I didn't. Instead, I read this over 10 years ago and proceeded to forget...

A strange fantasy that combines actual events in Edgar Allen Poe's life with fantastical events. During the last week of Poe's life, something clearly strange happens, as other histories and alternate versions of events intrude on his own timeline. Or has he just gone mad, due to a lifetime of too much drink and emotional strain? Don't go into this expecting a clear, linear plot that ties itself up neatly at the end. Do expect excellent writing and a complete blur of fact and fiction.

This book was not at all what I expected. I’m a huge fan of Poe, so I was interested to see what this author’s take on his mysterious death was. Yawn. Poe himself could have been completely left out of this tame action-adventure tale. Part of me wants to think it’s just above my head, but the other part doesn’t think so. Anyway, I skimmed the last 20 pages because it was boring me to death. The parts that were based on actual events (though fictionalized) were interesting, but the rest was so ha...

This novel is a mess. It is a perfect example of what Poe himself called "obscurity for obscurity's sake." The "fantasy" segments of the book are simply unreadable--impenetrable, meaningless hallucinatory sequences that do nothing but bore the reader.The "biographical" portion is not much better. It strays way too far from the known facts about Poe's life to make this part of the book involving or believable. I give Marlowe some credit for being one of the few writers willing to give Poe's wife

A wonderful interpretation of Poe's life, but if you are not a Poe fan, you will neither enjoy it or even understand it. I read this years ago when it was first published and it remains one of the few physical books that I still own, having gravitated almost completely to my Kindle. A rare five star in my opinion and worth a read.

"She called across the gulf separating us, called questions I could not hear. They were a test. To answer incorrectly would have terrible consequences. I flung random yesses and noes at her, hoping for the best. The yesses sounded like cell doors opening, the noes like cell doors slamming shut."This book wove an evocative, enveloping psychological milieu.

This book is a pretty amazing journey for a Poe fan. It recounts the last days of Poe's life, which turns out to be a fascinating internal journey of many of his favorite works. I'm not sure what someone who's lukewarm to Poe would think, but I truly enjoyed it.

Very different; you need to concentrate to keep the two stories straight in your mind. Worth persevering.

Not sure. I think I need to read more Poe and then 're-read this book.

A waste of my time. I thought I would try reading fiction for a change, but this book makes me want to go back to non fiction.

To the one who comes after me; It’s entirely possible that person could be me. Again. Yet for this book, I quite seriously doubt it. This was a most unusual book and a difficult read because of it. In fact, this book would have been better executed as a movie. I never thought I would actually say that about a book, but in this case it’s true. It’s almost like the movie Shutter Island where you’re not quite sure what’s going on until the end. And even then you’re not entirely sure what’s what. L...

Stephan Marlowe writes a diverse and complex compilation of events in Edgar Allen Poe's life. The storys main base tells of Poe's life and his struggles of taking grasp of his own life and thoughts. It takes place in many locations including Baltimore, Philidelphia, and Paris. As the story goes on Poe loses his grasp on reality and eventually goes insane due to his lack of understanding what is real and his imagination. I would recommend this book to a very knowledgable reader who can keep up wi...

Though it was an extraordinary novel, often enlightening and an insightful look into the dark life of Poe, it was a difficult novel to follow. It was often difficult to sort out the speaker, at times Poe, at other times Poe as spoken by one of his characters such as Inspector Dupin, and other times a narrator.

gets a bit too indiana jones-ish towards the end. that in and of itself is not a bad thing but it made this particular story a wee bit too aimless for me. liked the dupin/poe exchanges and the parts that focused on the relationship with virginia clemm.

Hard to follow at times but it all got tied together in the end. Apparently Poe's last week was not a good one for him.

Kā izdevuma latviešu valodā pēcvārdā norādījis V.Freibergs, šis romāns ir Edgara Alana Po "radošs dzīves pārstāsts". Grāmatas pirmās 2/3 tiešām ir viegli lasāms un interesants gabals, kas šķietami atklāj tā gadsimta iezīmes, radošā darba aizkulises un nemitīgo trūkumu, kas pavada Edgara Alana Po centienus iztikt tikai ar ienākumiem no radošās darbības (pirmais, kas ko tādu mēģinājis), paralēli lielāko daļu vienkārši nodzerot.Lai arī romāna sākumā tiek solīts, ka tiks vēstīts par autora dzīves pē...

The first half, even two thirds, of this were wonderful and captivating. I loved how it was almost confusing in its execution, causing the reader to really question where the narrative is in time, and whether the new chapter has moved us backwards, forwards, or to a new perspective entirely.However, the last part of the book was too artistic so as to be indecipherable, except for Poe scholars.I enjoyed learning more about Poe through this and thought it was a good piece of historical fiction.

Surrealistic take on the final fate of Edgar Allan Poe