The Man of the Crowd

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Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) moved frequently throughout his life, driven by the pursuit of literary success and the need to support his family. Scott Peeples chronicles Poe's transient existence in the cities that influenced his work, revealing how each location left a lasting impact on his writing. Poe crafted short stories, poems, and journalism with urban audiences in mind, drawing from his experiences in various American cities. In Richmond, he witnessed urban slavery firsthand, living near slave jails and auction houses. Baltimore exposed him to the lives of enslaved workers, while Philadelphia presented a city grappling with violence. As suburbs began to emerge, he sought affordable living on the then-rural Upper West Side of Manhattan and later in the Bronx. His urban mysteries and tales of troubled minds reflect his encounters with soldiers, slaves, and immigrants. Featuring evocative photographs by Michelle Van Parys, this work challenges the notion of Poe as an isolated artist, instead portraying him as a man deeply influenced by the cities he inhabited, yearning for stability in his life and career.