Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Date of Degree
2005
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Program
English
Advisor
Marc Dolan
Committee Members
David S. Reynolds
David S. Richter
Subject Categories
English Language and Literature
Abstract
This dissertation seeks to help explain Poe's circulation of his journalism by performing close readings of both canonical works including "William Wilson" (1839) and "The Philosophy of Composition" (1846) and lesser-known articles such as "The Literary Life of Thingum Bob, Esq." (1844) and "Loss of Breath" (1832/5). Chapter One describes Poe's involvement in the transatlantic literary marketplace prior to the enforcement of literary copyright. Chapters Two and Three treat his development of a literary brand in works including "Letter to B" (1831/6) and "A Reviewer Reviewed" by playing off his critical assertions against his practice as a critic. Chapters Four and Five treat Poe's fiction. Chapter Four charts Poe's development of a light gothic fictional mode that would appeal to both British and American readers. The final chapter explains Poe's "The Philosophy of Composition" as a guide to his construction of unreliable yet compelling storytellers throughout his tales and criticism.
Recommended Citation
Hartmann, Jonathan, "“Neither in Nor Out of Blackwood's": The Marketing of Edgar Allan Poe’s Prose Address" (2005). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/1792
Comments
Digital reproduction from the UMI microform.