Poe's Life in Boston

EDGAR ALLAN POE to ABIJAH METCALF IDE, Jr.
Autographed letter
January 25, 1845
[Full Text]

In this second surviving letter to Ide, Poe again assumes the role of friendly teacher: praising "admirable" lines and highlighting flaws of diction and metrics. It's worth noting that Poe's comments draw richly on critical principles at the core of his long-running quarrel with Boston-area writers. For instance, by saying that Ide's verses are "fine, independently of thought," he emphasizes the value of art for its own sake. In his assessment of the difficulty Ide will face in trying to sell his work, Poe also shares the cynicism he acquired the hard way:

     I may be in error, but I do not believe you will be able to sell the poem anywhere. Its merits are far higher than those of many poems that are sold for high prices; but what is paid for is the name of the poet.

The Edgar Allan Poe Collection of Susan Jaffe Tane