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rick_k's review
3.0
With far more emphasis on the life of Poe than his works this lecture series is a little disappointing, but does succeed in touching on all the stated objectives if not in the proportion most satisfying.
mnboyer's review
4.0
A really quick overview of EAP and a chunk of his most famous works. This, of course, includes some in-depth analysis so if you don't want anything spoiled read EAP first. That being said, this is really a fun lecture series. (I did take a star away because the reading on audio is so slow I cranked it up to 1.6x speed to get more of a regular dialog -- may not be the case for everyone, but this had me sleeping before I adjusted the audio speed).
Note: favorite lecture was the one on Detective Fiction and EAP.
Note: favorite lecture was the one on Detective Fiction and EAP.
redhairedashreads's review
3.0
Rating: 3 stars - I liked it
In these 10 lectures, Mark Canada dissects some of Edgar Allan Poe’s most famous works. With heavy focus on the symbolism, imagery, rhythm and rhyme, and foreshadowing, Canada relates that back to Poe's life and how it created such enthralling stories.
While this was very interesting, I also had a few issues with it. First, if you liked dissecting literature in English class then you will probably like this. Unfortunately, I don’t like dissecting and picking apart stories. I read them to enjoy the stories, not to pick them apart for hidden symbolisms. Another issue was that the author, and narrator, would do a specific voice any time he read from Poe’s work, and it was very unflattering and annoying.
If you have not read the majority of Poe’s works, this discussion of them will most likely spoil what happens. So I recommend reading at least The Tell-Tale Heart, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Purloined Letter, The Raven, Ulalume and Annabel Lee before listening to this if you care about that. These are the ones that he discusses the most.
So if you are a Poe fan and you want to dive deep into the symbolism of his work and learn more about how his life influenced it, than you might enjoy this audiobook. But if you are going into this expecting a biography then look somewhere else.
In these 10 lectures, Mark Canada dissects some of Edgar Allan Poe’s most famous works. With heavy focus on the symbolism, imagery, rhythm and rhyme, and foreshadowing, Canada relates that back to Poe's life and how it created such enthralling stories.
While this was very interesting, I also had a few issues with it. First, if you liked dissecting literature in English class then you will probably like this. Unfortunately, I don’t like dissecting and picking apart stories. I read them to enjoy the stories, not to pick them apart for hidden symbolisms. Another issue was that the author, and narrator, would do a specific voice any time he read from Poe’s work, and it was very unflattering and annoying.
If you have not read the majority of Poe’s works, this discussion of them will most likely spoil what happens. So I recommend reading at least The Tell-Tale Heart, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Purloined Letter, The Raven, Ulalume and Annabel Lee before listening to this if you care about that. These are the ones that he discusses the most.
So if you are a Poe fan and you want to dive deep into the symbolism of his work and learn more about how his life influenced it, than you might enjoy this audiobook. But if you are going into this expecting a biography then look somewhere else.
mugglemom's review
3.0
Another great mind with a sad life. I truly enjoyed the author/narrator's short & brief explanation on the history of horror writing genre. Wasn't too convinced about the author's thoughts on Poe's right brain theory.
I finished this shorty audible with an urge to read more Poe and I'm betting that's a good indication of how well the subject was received by me!
I finished this shorty audible with an urge to read more Poe and I'm betting that's a good indication of how well the subject was received by me!
nytephoenyx's review
informative
medium-paced
4.0
If you enjoy Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories in particular, this one is for you. It’s been awhile since I delved into one of my favourite poets - easily a decade - so while I knew quite a bit about his history and career in the first handful of lectures, it was a collection of “oh yeah, I’d forgotten that!” moments rather than a bore.
Very little time is spent analysing Poe’s poetry - I find myself actually straining to remember if Annabel Lee (which I believe is one of his most well-known poems?) was even mentioned. This probably should have been expected, since the title of the lecture contains the phrase “master of horror” but I did find myself a bit disappointed considering the depth of critical analysis that went into pieces like The Masque of the Red Death and Fall of the House of Usher only to have a poetry feel like a footnote. Other than The Raven, that is, which has a lecture all its own.
Nonetheless, this is an overall interesting lecture and provides a lot of groundwork for those who are interested in learning more and Edgar Allan Poe as well as those who want to dig a little deeper into his more renown short stories. Canada is a fantastic teacher and presents the topic with an air of excitement that makes it incredibly accessible to the listener.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Grief
Moderate: Death
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