The Raven

by Edgar Allan Poe, Ryan Price (Illustrator)

Overview

Visions in Poetry is an exciting and unique series of classic poems illustrated by outstanding contemporary artists in stunning hardcover editions.The fifth book in the series, Edgar Allan Poe's “The Raven,” delves into the hidden horrors of the human psyche. Originally published in 1845, the poem is narrated by a melancholy scholar brooding over Lenore, a woman he loved who is now lost to him. One bleak December at midnight, a raven with fiery eyes visits the scholar and perches above his chamber door. Struggling to understand the meaning of the word his winged visitant repeats — “Nevermore!” — the narrator descends by stages into madness.Illustrator Ryan Price's exquisitely grim illustrations suggest a background story shaped by the narrator's guilt, embodied in the terrifying figure of the raven. Price's drypoint technique, with its rich blacks and feathery lines, perfectly captures the nightmarish atmosphere of this unforgettable poem.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781554534593
Publisher:	Kids Can Press
Publication date:	09/01/2014
Series:	Visions in Poetry Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	10 - 14 Years

About the Author

Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849) was orphaned at the age of three and adopted by a wealthy Virginia family with whom he had a troubled relationship. He excelled in his studies of language and literature at school, and self-published his first book, Tamerlane and Other Poems, in 1827. In 1830, Poe embarked on a career as a writer and began contributing reviews and essays to popular periodicals. He also wrote sketches and short fiction, and in 1833 published his only completed novel, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket. Over the next five years he established himself as a master of the short story form through the publication of "The Fall of the House of Usher," "The Masque of the Red Death," "The Tell-Tale Heart," and other well–known works. In 1841, he wrote "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," generally considered the first modern detective story. The publication of The Raven and Other Poems in 1845 brought him additional fame as a poet.

Editorial Reviews

Price's vision of The Raven not only haunts, but also brings Poe's work back to life. An ideal resource for teachers and students.—School Library Journal

Price's illustrations make the viewer pause and consider the cracks in the narrator's mind, and they provide glimpses into the strange, violent story behind his torment.—Toronto Star

(Price's pictures) do a great job of evoking the brooding guilt, terror, and love in Poe's famous poem ... lengthy appended notes will spark discussion on both the poem and the art.—Booklist

From the Publisher