The Souls Close to Edgar Allan Poe: Graves of his Family, Friends and Foes (Book Trailer)

I wrote another book!

My forthcoming book The Souls Close to Edgar Allan Poe: Graves of His Family, Friends and Foes is being published by The History Press on August 21, 2023. Some of the cemeteries that I visited were places Poe visited. For some of the cemeteries in this collection, Poe would recognize only the names on the graves, not the place itself. And for other cemeteries, Poe would recognize the names and be familiar with the land—although prior to it being established as a burial ground. I love the idea of standing where the author once stood and walking the paths he once walked. I enjoy physically being in a place associated with history—where authors walked and lived. To have a fuller story of Poe and the people with whom he associated, I went to cemeteries and visited graves of his mother, wife, foster family, first and last fiancée, bosses, friends, cousins, school peers and instructors. I hope that my book encourages readers of Poe to visit the cemeteries in the collection to create their own experiences with those connected to the famous author. I focused on cemeteries in the South including those mostly in Virginia and Maryland, along with Washington, D.C.; Kentucky; South Carolina; and West Virginia. 

The book isn't up on their website yet but it's being shown on Bookshop.org. I'll add a link below: 

Description:

Journey to the burial places of the people who lived in Poe's world. 
Edgar Allan Poe considered himself a Virginian. Credited with originating the modern detective story, developing Gothic horror tales, and writing the precursor to science fiction, Poe worked to elevate Southern literature. He lived in the South most of his life, died in Baltimore and made his final home in Richmond. His family and many of his closest associates were southerners. Visit the graves of the people with whom he worked and socialized, who he loved and at times loathed and gain a fuller understanding of Poe's life. These were individuals who supported, inspired, and challenged him, and even a few who attempted to foil his plans. Professor and cemetery historian Sharon Pajka tells their stories. 

Visiting Edgar Allan Poe's original grave (Westminster Hall and Burying Ground)

... recalling the past...

 
Last night I was working on some research and I casually read a poem by Margaret Junkin Preston because it's called "A Grave in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond (J.R.T.)" and I laugh because I immediately believe I recognize the initials because JRT isn't common at all, right!

As a little back story, I often walked by his marker reading the epitaph and wondering, “Who are you John R. Thompson?” It’s an obelisk much like the others surrounding it in Richmond’s Hollywood Cemetery; yet, the inscription always made me stop and read it again. 

John R. Thompson

Born in Richmond, VA. 23, Oct. 1823,

Died in New York, 30. April 1873.

To the graceful poet, the brilliant

Writer, the steadfast friend, the

Loyal Virginian, the earnest and consistent Christian.

This monument is erected

As a token

Of admiration and affection

By his

Northern and Southern Friends.

As an English professor, I love stumbling upon writers and poets who are no longer in the literary canon. John R. Thompson is one example. In 2017, I wrote a blog post on Thompson and his grave. Just a quick recap, John Reuben Thompson was born in Richmond and by 1847, he purchased the Southern Literary Messenger and became its editor. You might recognize that paper because of Edgar A. Poe who had been the editor a decade earlier. Also, happy birthday to Poe! Tomorrow he turns 212!

Unlike many Virginians of his time, Mr. Thompson did not take part in the Civil War citing health reasons. Ironically, many of his works are considered “war-poems.”

Margaret Preston, who is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery in Lexington, Virginia wrote for the Southern Literary Messenger during the editorship of John R. Thompson. I know this thanks to 1872 biography.

Just to be sure that JRT is who I think he is, I checked the preface to Poems of John R. Thompson and there's Preston’s name mentioned. A little more digging reveals they wrote letters to one another so unless there's another poet with the same initials from the same time period, I'm done with my bit of sleuthing. 

But wait, just a few minutes ago I discovered that John R. Thompson endorsed that collection the 1872 biography was in. That would have been a year before he died.  

I love imagining what Hollywood Cemetery looked like when Margaret Preston walked by Thompson's grave and then decided to write a poem about her experience. 

 

 

...Poe, Unhappy Hour, Gothic Gardening, and Good Luck...

            

 The following is an adapted version of the talk on Gothic Gardening that I shared at the Poe Museum’s July Unhappy Hour. I was asked to make the content available. The way the event is structured, I actually spoke twice; and, I must admit that the second group received a much different version than the first. You see, as I was standing under a large tree in the Poe Museum’s Enchanted Garden prepared to give my talk, a bird, I think it was a cardinal and it was certainly not a raven pooped on me right as I was handed the microphone. At the time, I held my arm that was covered in bird poop very still. The six-minute lecture was not going to go as planned; I knew for I could tell that the matter was also smeared down my new black, lace dress. I had no idea that it was also in my hair. Thanks, little birdy! Alas, the presentation continued but perhaps a little quicker than I would have liked. After my talk, several shared that being pooped on is actually good luck. 

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In the subheader, you’ll see that I use gardening as a metaphor for living. I share stories about how plants & flowers, creepy things, and the dead including cemeteries have brought me back to life. My blog posts actually rhyme with this month’s Unhappy Hour (at the Poe Museum) focus on how Poe's natural surroundings inspired his work.

Growing up, Poe would have been familiar with the Romantic era landscape designs that sought to express the inherent beauty of nature in opposition to the strictly symmetrical, formal gardens favored by those of the past. These gardens were beautiful landscapes that included antique statues, urns or pedestals to lend interest. These gardens would have included blooms that by some would have been considered imperfect. Even the dead vines of ivy covering the side of a building would not necessarily have been removed. The look of ruins was a highly sought-after aesthetic that would add a bit of enchantment to a place. We’re not exactly talking about the Addam’s Family snipping off the blooms of roses but that the roses would naturally bloom and die, and be left on the plant until they fell off. 

One googly eye was found outside the Old Stone House and was added to this pot

As we move into the Victorian period, black flowers were highly sought after by many gardeners as black blooms and black foliage can include a dramatic addition to any garden. In Victorian black gardens, these dark plants- black, deep reds, and purples-- were the focal point in landscape design. Placement was key for dark plants and foliage since darker flowers and plants can end up blending into the landscape if planted in shady, darker locations, especially if you use black mulch like I do.  Lighter backgrounds, less busy designs, and even stone urns and vases are key to make these black plants pop. 

Snapdragons look like skulls when they dry. Just turn them upside down

Much of Poe’s work was considered gothic and I was invited to the Poe Museum to talk about Gothic Gardens. I do not believe there is any one way to have a Gothic Garden. If there were, I would encourage you to break the rules immediately.  Gothic Gardens can evoke images of old abandoned cemeteries with gravestones and roses and they can also evoke images of a more manicured garden with rare and unique blooms. They are certainly not a ‘one size fits all’. I believe that today’s gardens take a bit from Romantic era landscaping and Victorian black gardens. Each garden is very much about the gardener’s tastes and preferences.

Grandpa Ott

Arguably, there are a few features of a gothic garden. First, a gothic garden design follows the gothic architectural style—think slender vertical pillars, pointed arches, stonework, wrought-iron fixtures, and trellises. There may be ivy climbing up a trellis with a statue of an angel nearby. For example, in my garden, I have a gothic trellis with morning glories including Grandpa Ott, which is a dark blue-purple bloom with a red star throat. My mother-in-law says the center looks like a glowing candle.

Spider topiary

Second, when we think Gothic, we also think mystery and spooky, descriptions that resonate with Poe and his writing. A gothic garden should have some sort of element of surprise. A statue would not be isolated or featured, but in the Gothic setting a statue would nearly be covered and hidden by climbers such as that ivy that I mentioned or even climbing roses. Also, it would be better if that statue were missing an arm or a head to show age. In my garden, I have a spider-shaped topiary perched on a trellis.
Finally, a Gothic Garden should include those rich colors of the medieval period. Deep wine reds, dark purples and blues, and even black against dark green foliage or decayed vines. I brought a display of some easy-to-grow houseplants to the Unhappy Hour.  

While dark plants can be easy to grow, some thrive in full sun while others need shade; you’ll want to consider your plant hardiness zone. Depending on what part of the Greater Richmond area you live in, we’re considered zone 7a/ 7b.

Nearly black petunia

When designing your own Gothic garden, keep in mind what creates a great gothic garden. It’s all in the spooky, mysterious details. And, it’s very much what speaks to you. Some goth gardeners focus on ancient herbs and plants that come with legends and lore. Others focus on apothecary gardens. And even others focus on plants that are deadly.

In my own garden, I focus a great deal on names. I like the dark colors but it’s all in the names:

·        Superstition Iris- this is a rich dark beauty with luscious deep purple-black flowers that is among the darkest. It almost resembles leather right before the bud opens.

·        Dianthus Heart Attacks – these are a brilliant red-black, carnation-like flower that attracts hummingbirds

·        Bela Lugosi Daylily- deep, deep purple flowers that are almost black with a green throat

·        Nosferatu Daylily- Similar to the ‘Bela Lugosi’, this variety has a shorter height, and more prominent veining in the pie crust ruffled petals. It has a chartreuse throat.

·        Tiny Ghost Lily

·        Pagan Dance Iris

·        Bleeding Hearts

Purple Ruffles Basil

I invited participants to come over to see some of the houseplants that I’ve brought, to review the slides featuring some of my own garden blooms, and even if they didn’t feel that they had the greenest of thumbs, they could go home with their very own gothic paper flower. No water or fertilizer needed.  I shared a basic fan-fold paper flower design.