Recommendations on book editions of Edgar Allan Poe

[rjk]

Short story is I'm looking for some recommendations on good Edgar Allan Poe anthologies, likely annotated.

Long story is I've first encountered Poe when I was in my teens. I was into horror tales then and read somewhere about a guy named E.A. Poe. I picked up some not too big collection of his short stories in my local library and I remember considering it being one of the best things I've read. Back then I thought this was more or less all that he's ever written. Now I'd like to get into his other works, probably all of them.

The problem I encountered when I wandered through some online bookstores looking for some anthology of his works was that there are tons of them. I'd like one that's unabridged with original unaltered texts. I'd be glad to have it somehow annotated (also I've seen many illustrated editions and read that Harry's Clarke illustrations for Poe are damn good), as I've read he used pretty obscure language and phrases. Also it doesn't have to be an anthology - I can buy few separated volumes.

I'd just go to bookstoes and check some editions myself, but I live in Poland and we don't import that many of English languaged books, so I'm limited to the online shopping.

I'm not sure if that's the proper section of the forums to ask such a question. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[PeterL]

In good conscience I would not recommend any printed anthologies, but I understand your desire. I believe that the best source for the works of E. A. Poe is http://www.eapoe.org/ The Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore. I haven't looked at the site recently, but they have etexts of most of what he wrote, and there are articles about him. You might also look at http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/481 which has some anthologies. The etexts are free at both sites, and you can print them.

[PeterL]

One thing to remember about Poe's works is that they were edited and reedited during his life, so there is no sinfgle correct text; although the versions at eapoe.org probably are better than most.

[rjk]

Thanks for answering. www.eapoe.org looks very rich, but I hate the idea of reading in front of a screen. I don't own any ebook reader either and I simply like the printed book touch on my hands. Still that same site lists "The Collected Works of Edgar Allan Poe" edited by Thomas Ollive Mabbott as one of their main 2 resources and "the definitive annotated scholarly edition of Poe’s poetry, tales and sketches". Looks like just what I want. I only need to find myself a printed edition of that. Anybody can recommend one?

[rjk]

I've bought this (www.amazon.co.uk/Collected-Works-Tales-Sketches-v/dp/0674139364/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1396422411&sr=8-8&keywords=The+Collected+Works+of+Edgar+Allan+Poe+ma bbott) original 1978 edition of "The Collected Works of Edgar Allan Poe: Tales and Sketches" (volumes II & III). Got them pretty well conditioned (at least the detailed description stated so) for a nice bargain at AbeBooks. Can't wait until they arrive. Maybe I'll buy the "Poems" (vol. I) in the future, but the first two volumes should keep me busy for some time.

[MorpheusSandman]

Looks like just what I want. I only need to find myself a printed edition of that. Anybody can recommend one?Looks like the University of Illinois has the official printed text version: http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Poems-Edgar-Allen-Poe/dp/0252069218

[rjk]

Looks like the University of Illinois has the official printed text version: www.amazon.com/Complete-Poems-Edgar-Allen-Poe/dp/0252069218

Thanks, but I'll wait with purchasing the poems for now. Have you read that Mabbott edition yourself?

[MorpheusSandman]

No, I have the Library of America edition of Poe's works; I just did an Amazon search for Mabbott Poe. University of Illinois is quite reputable. They also have the two Mabbott Tales:

http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Sketches-Vol-1-1831-1842/dp/0252069226/
http://www.amazon.com/Tales-Sketches-Vol-2-1843-1849/dp/0252069234/

[PeterL]

I've bought this (www.amazon.co.uk/Collected-Works-Tales-Sketches-v/dp/0674139364/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1396422411&sr=8-8&keywords=The+Collected+Works+of+Edgar+Allan+Poe+ma bbott) original 1978 edition of "The Collected Works of Edgar Allan Poe: Tales and Sketches" (volumes II & III). Got them pretty well conditioned (at least the detailed description stated so) for a nice bargain at AbeBooks. Can't wait until they arrive. Maybe I'll buy the "Poems" (vol. I) in the future, but the first two volumes should keep me busy for some time.

I understand you feelings about books. I hope the version you decided on fills your need.

[rjk]

I understand you feelings about books. I hope the version you decided on fills your need.

I feel it will : ). Thank you both Peter and Morpheus for your help.