Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen

    Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen.
                        Gallery Books, Simon & Schuster, 2013.

    Think you know the Edgar Allan Poe story? He married his cousin who was a young teen and they both died impoverished. His poetry is still studied in literature classes. His short stories are often deemed the original detective stories. Right?

     Just read Lynn Cullen's new book, Mrs. Poe, and you will come away with so much more! The narrator, a married writer named Frances Osgood, is changed forever by her encounters with Poe and his family. Cullen provides a fascinating backdrop for Osgood's probable love affair with Edgar.

      The book is dense, but reads easily. It is lush with period details of 1845-1847. I read an advanced copy and have recommended it to friends when it comes available in Fall, 2013. My conclusion is that Mr. Poe was immensely intriguing, brilliant, and could have wooed and won practically any woman he wanted. Just read the book and come to your own conclusions!