It’s Edgar Allan Poe’s 215th birthday! In memory of this great writer of science fiction, fantasy, and mystery, I’m offering my observations about Poe’s creepiest tales, the ones that deal with the ultimate terror of human existence — being buried alive.
My tribute to Poe, “The Premature Burial,” is featured in the latest post at the DMR Books blog.
M.C. Tuggle, Writer 
What an incredible story. Absolutely mesmerizing. I received a copy one night from Mike, and had to set it aside after the first paragraph because I knew I’d get caught up in it and get nothing else done. So, this morning, I picked it up again and thoroughly enjoyed it. The writing is flawless and the descriptions are vivid. Congratulations, Mike. I loved it.
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Anonymous,
Glad to share! Thanks for stopping by.
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This is an excellent post, Mike. I enjoyed Poe’s thinking and writing. I wonder if the word bugaboo was used often in his day. As a child I had the uncomfortable experience of being with my parents when they went to pay their respects to their dead friend, in the house.
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Jennie,
After paying our respects to my great-uncle, my mother informed us she did not want her body in the house after she passed away. “Our living room would never be the same. Every time someone entered our living room, they’d be reminded of death.”
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That makes perfect sense. Good for your mother! In New England the small doors on the side of old houses, close to the front door, are called coffin doors. Getting a coffin in the front door was too difficult. Not a cheerful or easy time.
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A coffin door. That shows how prevalent this practice used to be. BTW, while researching this article, I ran across this piece about how the Father of our country feared being buried alive. https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/when-fears-of-premature-burial-stalked-the-land/
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And just to think he died alone, half mad with some bizarre illness in some random hospital. No one even knew who he was at the time. They found him half naked, rambling unintelligibly in the gutter. Nevermore Poe, nevermore…
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A sad end to a sad, though productive, life.
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Thanks for posting. I’ve always been fascinated with Poe. And although he was a masterful and wildly inventive writer, it was his own life that was the darkest tale.
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Jim,
So true!
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