Today, we are happy to bring you our conversation with Richard Kopley, author of Edgar Allan Poe: A Life
What inspired you to write this book?
I was inspired to write this book by the greatness of Edgar Allan Poe. I was enabled to write the book by thirty-five years of work on Poe behind me, retirement ahead of me, a rich and long-unknown collection of letters about Poe written by the stepdaughter of Poe’s best friend, and the encouragement of an editor at the University of Virginia Press (now the director), Eric Brandt.
What did you learn and what are you hoping readers will learn from your book?
What I learned—and what I hope my readers will learn—is that Poe had a place in a social world wherever he lived, and especially in Richmond. Indeed, there were those who, knowing his faults, loved him nonetheless. Poe was, for those close to him, endearing, and their memory of him enduring.
What surprised you the most in the process of writing your book?
What surprised and delighted me the most were the moments of elation in Poe’s difficult life. He certainly suffered, but he also experienced joy.
What’s your favorite anecdote from your book?
My favorite anecdote from my book involves Edgar and Virginia at his friend John H. Mackenzie’s farm, Darby Town. As the couple, accompanied by several Mackenzie cousins, roamed the property, Edgar told stories, climbed trees to get fruit, whistled to accompany the others’ singing, carried Virginia across log bridges, and, entering the farmhouse, leapt into the parlor and landed with a twirl and a Spanish fandango. Here was Edgar Allan Poe both happy and beloved.
What’s next?
What’s next is a series of short projects—a talk about Poe research, a talk about the writing of the book, a talk about Poe’s lifelong friend John H. Mackenzie, an essay about Poe’s friendships. And I’ll explore the possibility of writing a screenplay based on this book. I’ll also venture beyond Poe—I’ll return to Nathaniel Hawthorne, and I’ll write new short stories and children’s picture-books.
