Wednesday, September 7, 2011

The Poe Tour

In the past few years, Phil and I have done a mini Edgar Allan Poe tour. The first picture is Poe's dorm room at U.V.A., we live only a half hour away. The next picture is the desk he wrote at, perhaps he even wrote "The Raven" there. No wonder he wrote about horror, can you imagine sitting for so long in that  tiny backless chair? The last three pictures are in the house in Richmond where Mr. Poe lived, which has been turned into a tiny museum and gift shop. If you look closely, you can even see him peering out the window, I think he's on the lookout for mean critics. This is the oldest house in Richmond., likely built in1737. We even had our picture taken with the king of horror! In the first picture Phil looks pretty scared, but he felt better when I explained it was just a life size cardboard picture.


"Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: "Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there. So he did what the Lord had told him...the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening..."
1 Kings 17:2,5

26 comments:

George said...

I had forgotten that Edgar Allen Poe went to U. Va. and lived in Richmond. Thanks for jogging my memory and for the neat pictures.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Wow---that is neat.. Getting to see Edgar Allen Poe's dorm room is neat, and also his home.

I didn't know that he had attended UVa. I certainly remember: "Quote the Raven, Nevermore!"

Hugs,
Betsy

SquirrelQueen said...

That would be an exciting place to see Ginny. That chair had to be horrible uncomfortable, maybe it helped him to stay in the mood for the macabre. When I was in high school I read everything Poe wrote, he was my favorite author. He also wrote one of my favorite love poems.

Reanaclaire said...

Very interesting... esp the picture where he seems to be looking out from the window! No wonder Phil felt it..

From the Kitchen said...

I love Poe! His poetry and his prose. I've been to that little house in Richmond and I've been to his grave in Baltimore. I've also taken a spooky tour of the S.C. island where he wrote "The Goldbug".

You are so good to take care of Phil!!

Best,
Bonnie

MadSnapper said...

where are the crows??? ha ha the ones on our golden corral, made me say never more never more. Poe's stories gave me night mares in school and i only read what i had to. i think he had to be sick to come up with the things he wrote, nothing i would read now. the one that terrified me was Cask of amontillado because i am claustrophobic to begin with. just sleeping in that small room would make me peer out the window.

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

I've toured his house in Baltimore before - really interesting!

Remington said...

Beth would LOVE to go there! Awesome post!

Stephanie V said...

Actually, I was thinking the exact same thing about why Poe wrote the kind of works he did. It all looks so dreary, cheerless and uncomfortable. Except the outside of the house. I love the stones.

RoeH said...

He fascinates me and I would loved to have known him. I went through his house last spring but didn't know about the dorm room. Okay. I'm coming back. :)

Hootin Anni said...

Oh my gosh....oh my gosh!!! I'm so glad that I took the time to stop by. Otherwise I would have missed this. Tho the man was quite an odd writer and probably in person, he's one of my favorites!!! This was just a real special treat for me. And.........how I envy you visiting the museum. Wish I were there at the same time.

Jeanne said...

Very interesting and another place to add to my list of places to see.
Have a good day,
Jeanne

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

That is funny, glad you explained it was just cardboard!

S. Etole said...

I remember him from High School literature class. His surroundings seem rather stark in contrast with today's abundance.

Marie said...

Very interesting. I would lke to visit there sometime.

Sr Crystal Mary Lindsey said...

Ginny I don't know Edgar Poe so thank you for your enlightenment. I cannot imagine sitting for lengthy periods in the straight backed chair, but people accept those hardships so much better then us then. His room looks bleak and lonely and yet there is also strength there..
It is all so interesting.
The blue photo you refered to on my Blog which you thought looked like a quilt is my daughter Daniella standing in front of a mosaic.. XXX

Together We Save said...

Great pictures!! I love history!! This is so cool!

Remington said...

Me again....yes, we have wild rice growing all over the place up here....and no, she was not the Rice Princess -- she is Miss Aitkin....have a nice evening....

Ann, Chen Jie Xue ι™ˆζ΄ι›ͺ said...

If Poe was born in a different era, you will see a computer on the table.

Tell Phil to take a holiday down under to Australia, and I will ask Jacob to take lessons from him.

LV said...

A very nice post giving us a history lesson.

Rose said...

Your header photo sure fits your subject today!

Regina said...

Oh this looks intriguing..sniff, I feel cheated! The first shot is cool and I like you two posing next too!

Annie Jeffries said...

I had NO idea, Ginny. How lucky for you to live so close to the master. Don will love this. Another place to add to our bucket list of U.S. places to visit. :-)

Fred Alton said...

Poe was one of my favorite authors while I was in college. He seemed quite melancholy actually, while I, for the most part am not. ☻

LC said...

Glad you experienced no scary episodes. Years ago when our oldest son was small, we toured Ralph Waldo Emerson's home. Our enthusiastic guide settled us on a bench for the tour introduction which went on and on and on. Every time we thought she was through we would begin standing up, but no, she was off again on another lengthy monologue. After a few times of our rising up as if we were a well-choreographed trio, hubby and I could barely contain our laughter.

At least our son was well-behaved for that visit. As a reward, we finished the actual tour at top speed, headed out to our camper van and collapsed in laughter.!

Chatty Crone said...

I don't know a whole lot of where Poe lived - but some of his stories were awesome and scary weren't they? Sandie

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