In this episode, I talk about how I met the co-host of this podcast - the imaginary ghost of Edgar Allan Poe. Ok - I know it sounds strange - I still scarcely believe it myself - that this is the episode where Mr. Poe made his podcasting debut.
You could say this "sets the stage" for the rest of "Celebrate Poe" and the detailed look at Poe's life and works to follow. So this episode is a look at the very beginning of Celebrate Poe, and a brief look into future episodes. Currently I am working on several episodes about the Beatles, and how they developed their talents using principles that Edgar Allan Poe used. And I am very excited about several episodes regarding Chronos and Kairos time in the works of Shakespeare, Poe, and the King James Bible. - a subject I will try to clearly explain later, and one that is a lot more interesting than it might sound at first.
And if it took well over 200 episodes to cover the first 20 years of Poe’s existence, you can be sure that the second half of Poe’s life will be a long journey that I hope is well worth taking.
Well, thank you very much for making it this far, as we take a deep dive into learning about America’s Shakespeare, and how he has changed our world.
In this episode, I talk about how I met the co-host of this podcast - the imaginary ghost of Edgar Allan Poe. Ok - I know it sounds strange - I still scarcely believe it myself - that this is the episode where Mr. Poe made his podcasting debut.
You could say this "sets the stage" for the rest of "Celebrate Poe" and the detailed look at Poe's life and works to follow. So this episode is a look at the very beginning of Celebrate Poe, and a brief look into future episodes. Currently I am working on several episodes about the Beatles, and how they developed their talents using principles that Edgar Allan Poe used. And I am very excited about several episodes regarding Chronos and Kairos time in the works of Shakespeare, Poe, and the King James Bible. - a subject I will try to clearly explain later, and one that is a lot more interesting than it might sound at first.
And if it took well over 200 episodes to cover the first 20 years of Poe’s existence, you can be sure that the second half of Poe’s life will be a long journey that I hope is well worth taking.
Well, thank you very much for making it this far, as we take a deep dive into learning about America’s Shakespeare, and how he has changed our world.
George - bold text
Ghost of Mr. Poe - bold, italics text
Intro Music
Welcome to Celebrate Poe - Episode Two Hundred Twenty Four, Best Episode Yet - Now originally, I intended to call this episode - Encountering Poe’s Ghost (Again) but I thought back to how much of this episode set the tone for the rest of this podcast when it was first aired three years ago - I realized that this podcast episode has come the closest to communicating exactly what I trying to do with Celebrate Poe. And stay tune to the end of this podcast for a brief look at some topics that I am working on for future episodes.
But in this episode, I talk about how I met the co-host of this podcast - the imaginary ghost of Edgar Allan Poe. Ok - I know it sounds strange - I still scarcely believe it myself - that this is theepisode where Mr. Poe made his podcasting debut.
Now there was a time when one of my favorite things to do was go to the massive Alderman Library at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. One night I was doing some research at the library using some books that I could not find anywhere else. Just being in that library was always a wonderful experience - seated with towering columns of books all around me- volumes brimming with the knowledge of the ages.
Snuggled into a big, comfy chair, I was reading some commentary regarding Shakespeare, but to be honest, the book wasn’t very interesting.
(snore)
I dozed off - no idea how long I slept - but I remember feeling some cold wind. I slowly opened my eyes and glanced around me. When I started reading, the room was full, but now there were no students or librarians anywhere - just furniture, desks, and endless stacks of books.
GHOST ENTERS
I saw a man of medium height with a moustache, piercing eyes, and slightly curly hair standing a few feet in front of me. He was wearing steampunk style clothes - a black cape and white vest that made him look like he would have been at home in a Victorian lecture or reading.
He spoke in a soft voice with a Southern accent - some might say “drawl”
My sincerest greetings, Mr. Bartley. My name is Edgar A. Poe. How are you?
Apparently Ii was having a very vivid dream. Who did you say you were?
I am the ghost - or if you will - spirit or energy of Edgar A. Poe.
I quickly looked around again, and saw no one - that is except for this quirky-looking steampunk character. It seemed everyone else had gone home.
I thought if I did the smart thing and got up and left quickly, it might set off the security alarm, but right now, that fear was the least of my worries. So I decided that the best thing to do was to remain calm and humor this person - or whatever it was.
Mr. Bartley, I have come to speak with you tonight about your interest in my life. I know you are immersed in studying a commentary on Shakespeare’s King Lear, but I have come to you with a proposal regarding me.
How did you know I was reading a commentary about King Lear?
Oh, I have many methods to accomplish my course of actions.
I thought to myself - I bet he wants money - maybe he”ll say he has a sure-fire business investment and spend any money I give him for drugs.
I can assure you - it is not my intention to be the source of any distress on your part.
Well, let you assure you that I don’t believe in ghosts or anything dealing with the supernatural.
Mr. Bartley, I remember the first time you visited the museum built in my honor in Richmond, Virginia. You were especially interested in the words from Hamlet that I had copied in a book during my earthly life.
How could you possibly have known THAT? I never mentioned that to anyone!
And I remember well the many times that you traveled in West Virginia reenacting my life.
This may sound strange, but as a reenactor I always felt somewhat of a responsibility to represent Edgar Allan Poe as a historical character with utmost respect for historical accuracy - almost as though he were watching. But I…. don’t believe in ghosts. He continued talking as though what I was saying about not believing in ghosts was irrelevant.
And you did a most adequate - reenactment - for the most part - tho sometimes I found myself wincing.
Ok tell me - if you were there, prove it!
Do you remember Mountaineer Middle School, and you gave your standard narration about me studying in England for five years while still a young boy?
He WAS right about the school name in West Virginia but how did he know about the details in my speech to the class. That was years ago. That made me wonder where this was going.
A very sincere student asked during a question and answer period for you to name the headmaster of the school you attended in England - that is when you were speaking as though you were me.
I will never forget that. I thought I was prepared, but my mind went totally blank. I had no earthly idea how to answer that.
Yes, you had no EARTHLY idea.
I remember I had a feeling of panic at that school that I hoped didn’t show ,I was ready to say “I forget his name.”
Of course you could not see me physically, but I realized that you needed help, and caused you to say - “That would be the the Rev. Bransby.”
I always wondered where that came from - well, thanks, I guess.
And if that ever happens again, remember that I would have never used the word “teenager” like you did. That word was not used for almost 100 years after my earthly existence.
Well, thank you , Mr. Poe - if that is who you are.
Mr. Bartley - I can sense that you are hesitant to accept my reality and consider my suggestions. As you may surmise, I have spent an inordinate amount of time in various libraries - reading about my favorite subject - myself - and those I loved. Some writers - like Rufus Griswold - infuriate me - others such as Arthur Hobson Quinn are examples of exemplary scholarship - and some - such as Susan Archer Weiss - are interesting, but simultaneously irritating. And some literary attempts are simply laughable. I had no idea that I would become so well-known as a writer - or so misunderstood after my earthly demise. To be specific, I desire to make endeavors to embark on a new form of historical and literary creativity - at least new for me - I would like to begin a podcast regarding my life, works, and times. Podcasts do seem to be rather popular now among the masses, and you certainly have more knowledge of computers than I. Though I do insist that I maintain - in the words of your current vernacular - complete creative control regarding the content.
I thought the best thing to do was just humor this guy - and go along with his idea - at least verbally. Yes, I am sure we can work that out.
This would be an opportunity for you to learn more about my life and times, as well as communicate that knowledge to others.
Mr. Poe this would be a gigantic undertaking - I have over 100 books about you, and so many of them contradict each other.
Actually you just have just 97 books about me - but you can avail yourself of the many Poe scholars, as well as library and online resources. And one must admit that you do spend an inordinate amount of time using your computer - experience that I would no doubt find quite useful in doing further research.
Please consider my proposal. Farewell, Mr. Bartley. I will leave you with some words from my story, “The Premature Burial”
He stared at me with hypnotic eyes and slowly said, “The boundaries which divide life from death are, at best, shadowy and vague. Who knows where one ends and where the other begins.”
And Mr. Poe disappeared.
I quickly left the library, and fortunately the security alarm did not go off.
But I left quickly, just in case. I hadn’t done anything wrong, but if any authority figure asked me what I had been doing, I seriously doubt that he or she would believe me.
I thought that maybe, like Scrooge in Dickens A Christmas Carol, I had eaten a bad bit of beef, and imagined this Poe character. After all I had just eaten at McDonalds. And the reality of it was that, while I been thinking about starting a podcast, but I was far too busy for such a massive undertaking regarding Poe - to really do it right. So I promptly forgot about it for several years.
BREAK
Now you you don’t have to believe this either but the ghost of Poe visited me again. I was watching a YouTube video, in my current apartment in Indianapolis, Indiana. All at once, I and felt some cold air. cold air spooky I started feeling the strange sensations that I had experienced at Alderman Library years before.
The figure who had introduced himself as Mr. Edgar A. Poe stood beside me.
Hello, Mr. Bartley. I am sure you know who I am.
You again! How did you get in here? The door to my apartment building, and the door to my apartment are both locked.
And he replied with the same words he had used several years ago in Virginia: Oh, I have many methods to accomplish my course of actions.
Well, either I am hallucinating or this is really happening.
Mr. Bartley - I did not want to bother again you regarding a podcast until you were genuinely ready.
Yes, I have thought about it for years. but have never really taken action. But I think I might be ready in a way that I have never felt before.
And just to refresh your memory, I have a desire to eliminate some of the unfair perceptions that have arisen regarding my earthly existence. A movie, or television program, or even YouTube video might serve as media vehicles in pursuit of this goal - but mine is an extremely complex narrative that will potentially require hundreds of hours. A podcast would give me an opportunity to relate the entire story for a novel audience.
Mr. Poe, I am depending on you to see me through this podcast. I can visualize now that the podcast contents could consist of previous knowledge that I might have regarding your life, as well as a great deal of research from various noted writers and scholars.
I thought to myself that this podcast idea might sound ridiculous, but it would be the chance of a lifetime - have Mr. Edgar Allan Poe talk to me about his life - the ultimate primary source.
Mr. Bartley, I have an excellent title for our podcast - similar to the title for my novel Arthur Gordon Pam - what is your opinion regarding my concept - I have condensed my original idea to:
Let us express the highest literary exultation and commemoration regarding the tortured and calamitous life of the celebrated and renowned Edgar A. Poe as a highly renowned and influential writer with emphasis on a tragic Southern life, numerous and debilitating travails, physical maladies, personal fallacies, and emotional states while engaging in (but not limited to) psychological studies of terror, texts of acerbic humor, the invention of the modern science fiction narrative, the devising of the detective story, scathing literary criticism, and the creation of melancholy poetry against a backdrop of early 19th century America, as well as a cursory study of the numerous individuals and events informing the development of the writers’s talents and career as a prominent member of America’s Romantic and Renaissance movements, and frequently esteemed as America’s Shakespeare.
Mr. Poe, that certainly communicates many ideas, but I doubt that your title will fit on a small cover art graphic, much less a tweet.
Why don’t we shorten your title to “Celebrate Poe.”
If you truly feel that it would be more effective.
Mr. Poe, I know you are the literary genius - but trust me on this one.
Mr. Bartley - I sense that you are definitely ready.
Farewell, Mr. Bartley. Remember, “The boundaries which divide life from death are, at best, shadowy and vague.” Who knows where one ends and where the other begins.”
Ghost exits
He quickly vanished, and has been very - how should I say it - quite dependable - spending hours in relating his narrative - and recommending helpful resources.
And one aspect that has genuinely surprised me is that the ghost of Poe is amazingly self aware - something that Poe did not always show during his earthly existence. Sometimes he could be impulsive or stubborn or self-pitying during his earthly life - I sense that the ghost of Poe realizes this and, for the most part, is able to admit when he acted in error. Maybe being able to look back on your life gives you a great deal of perspective,
Transition
Well, let’s jump ahead 3 years from that first encounter with the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe to March of 2024. When I did that episode, I really had no idea if anyone would listen - but now Celebrate Poe has had - according to my buzz sprout stats - well over 11,000 downloads in 80 countries - from South Africa to Mongolia - from New Zealand to Nambia. And I feel that I have just begun to really delve into the literary life of Edgar Poe. Future episodes include the role of choices in Poe’s life and a detailed look at his publishers and the works he wrote while working for them. Currently I am working on several episodes about the Beatles, and how they developed their talents using principles that Edgar Allan Poe used. And I am very excited about several episodes regarding Chronos and Kairos time in the works of Shakespeare, Poe, and the King James Bible. - a subject I will try to clearly explain later, and one that is a lot more interesting than it might sound at first.
In the following podcast, Catchup - Celebrate Poe will finally take a brief look at the ancestors and early years of Poe’s life chronologically in preparation for the final twenty years of Poe’’s existence. And if it took well over 200 episodes to cover the first 20 years of Poe’s existence, you can be sure that the second half of Poe’s life will be a long journey that I hope is well worth taking on Celebrate Poe.
And while you are it, please remember to subscribe to this podcast in your favorite pod catcher so you will not miss an episode of Celebrate Poe.
Well, thank you very much for making it this far, as we take a deep dive into learning about America’s Shakespeare, and how he has changed our world.