Things that brighten up my day: Freaking out with this Playmobil version of one of my illustrations by Edgar Allan Poe, courtesy of @lanenadelosclicks.
OK, confession. When I’m wanting to add a classic to my bookshelves, I research which available version has the cover artwork that I like the most. What can I say? I’m a sucker for beautiful books.
Edgar Allan Poe, America’s greatest gothic horror author. This 3 ¼ inch Running Press edition published in 2014 contains many short stories and poems, including “The Tell Tale Heart” and “The Masque of the Red Death”.
Honestly, any poetry is DA poetry if you can recite it from memory or sound intelligent while speaking of it.
• T. S. Elliot
Didn’t write much poetry, but what he did write is dense with meaning
• Wisława Szymborska
Any of her poems are instant winners, for a great collection I would recommend Map: Collected and Last Poems
• William Shakespeare
Classic, cannot go wrong with any of his works
• Anne Sexton
For bonus points, listen to the song “Mercy Street” by Peter Gabriel based on the poem “45 Mercy Street”
• John Milton
Paradise Lost is always recognizable by name
• Homer
Both The IliadandThe Odyssey are the best known works, bonus points if you are able to read them in their original Greek for the full effect
• Edgar Allen Poe
Although The Raven is his most notable work of poetry, his short stories are also enjoyable
• Robert Frost
An acquired taste compared to my other favourite poets, but my top four are definitely “The Road Not Taken”, “Mending Wall”, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”, and “Acquainted With the Night”
• Mark Twain
Recognizable in name and work
• Lord Byron
An older poet, much of his language is obsolete in the modern era yet conveys meanings we could not hope to comprehend without it
• Sappho
An excellent romantic, “Slender Aphrodite has overcome me with longing for a girl” Bonus points if you read it in the original Greek for the full effect
• Walt Whitman
The modern-day version of a classical poet: free verse is his specialty!
• Edgar Allan Poe
The O.G. dark academic, the literature teacher’s favourite Halloween lesson. Nothing can beat the simple and unsettling Poetry of Poe!
• Oscar Wilde
Nothing will ever be as iconic as The Picture of Dorian Gray has become in the DA aesthetic! a definite must-read.
On January 29, 1845, Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven haunted readers for the first time! A timeless hymn of ho-rror, this perturbing poem casts an eerie spell with its lyrical sorcery. The favorite of all spooksters, it’s been read by everyone from Vincent Price to Christopher Lee. Even “The Simpsons” have recited this Poe-tic masterpiece. No matter ho-w you look at it, The Raven is a cl-ass-sick… forevermore.
As a special treat, we have the great Vincent Price reading this eternal work of the weird. Enjoy:
(Hotel Oblivion spoilers!) Here’s my fanart for my favourite new Umbrella Academy character! We know very little about her, including not knowing her name or whether she turns into ravens or crows. Still, she’s my favourite of the Sparrow Academy. I made some minor design changes with her, though.
So here’s the superhero name I pose for her: The Murder, because that’s the name for a group of crows. But if it’s ravens, then it should be The Conspiracy for the same reason. As for her actual name, I’m currently calling her Eleanor Nevermore. These are both references to Edgar Allen Poe’s works (the author of The Raven). It also just sounds cute together. So meet Eleanor!
I am way too in love with this character despite how little we’ve seen of her and her siblings. I had a lot of fun drawing Eleanor and hope to see more of her in the future issues! Can’t wait for season two!
