Item description for Edgar Allan Poe - The Raven: 1930 NY Dodd Mead & Co

THE RAVEN

TITLE: Edgar Allan Poe- THE RAVEN:

Illus. Horvath - 1930 - Dodd, Mead & Company 1930, N.Y. EXCELLENT.

THE RAVEN LIVES!!! Even though it is missing the dust cover and rigid slip jacket the book is in excellent condition. The spine is intact, the hinges tight and the pages, though bearing some toning at nearly 95 years old, are not water stained, creased or marked. The front edge, tail, block intact. Hard to find a better example.

The front board bears a shining gilded singular bold gold seal. Upon the seal is a black deco image of a RAVEN IN FLIGHT.

The Hovrath illustrations are cast in shades of subdued tones of black and white and gray. Almost impressionistic and deco.

Hovrath’s images no doubt were influenced by his dark past as a prisoner of war.

POE’S RAVEN is symbolic of the dark cloud which haunted him throughout his brief life from depression and addiction. However the loss of his Love, Lenore caused the Raven to loom even larger in his psyche. More omnipresent than ever.

Poe suffered from Trigeminal Neuralgia, aka Tic Deloreux . This is intractable facial pain. Hence only relieved then by opioids. 5th cranial nerve pain. Debilitating pain.

The RAVEN IS A dark and somber time reflecting on suffering, anguish and loss . The existential angst of Poe and mankind. The Great Depression no doubt was pervasive. Poe and mankind were suffering physically and emotionally. Lest we Quote the RAVEN nevermore. It reminds us of the Demons which haunt us all. This timeless work summons us to face the existential questions which no one has answers for.

The seller has a 5 rating . All sales final. No returns. Item described as best as possible.

NOTE: printed in the U.S.A by the PLIMPTON PRESS, Norwood Mass.