Mrs. Poe

I found Mrs. Poe a very layered read, full of atmosphere, tension, passion and mystery. The author has gathered a group of interesting and original characters. Mrs. Poe is a masterful blending of history and fiction and a very compelling story.

I really enjoyed this book even though it starts a little slow for my taste. I had never read The Raven and was a bit discouraged from even reading the book because of the poem. But I glad I stuck to it.
*Spoiler* I didn't know it was sort of a true story, and as for most true stories, had a bad ending. I am a very opinionated woman and so it drove me crazy reading how Frances didn't let people have it when they clearly needed to be told off! I am glad I wasn't born in that era, I would have sucked at being a proper lady lol. All in all very well written, kept me interested. It was an enjoyable read.

Set in a time when women were chattels, Mrs. Poe takes place in the 1840s, a few decades after the death of Jane Austen. The romantic tone is similar, stolen glances and hidden desire. What held my interest in this story were the cameo appearances of Edgar Allan Poe's contemporaries . The list is long; Louisa May Alcott, Walt Whitman, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Ralph Waldo Emmerson, John Bartlett of Bartletts Quotations, Clement Clarke Moore and composer Franz Liszt.
Politicians of the day were debating the creation of Central Park, turning 700 acres of Manhattan into recreational land, displacing over a thousand poor farmers and gardeners in the process. It would have been a contentious plan, I'm sure.
The storyline is a little dark, Booklist says "It's enough to make the teacups rattle." By today's standards only the fine china would be affected.

This book captivated me from the very first page. It is very well written. The story intertwines fiction and fact, leaving the reader to want more. I had to find out more about the Poes, Osgoodes, Griswald and many others to satisfy my mind. It is by far one of the best books I have read lately.

I love historical fiction mixed up with some facts. I was so impressed by this book I had to do some research on the real Mr and Mrs Poe and Frances Osgood. Mrs Osgood's bleating about her guilt and love gets a bit tiring after awhile but it was still an enjoyable read.

Pennie Clark Ianniciello, Costco's book buyer, has chosen Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen as her pick of the month for October 2013.