Poe's Quarrel with Boston Writers

Nathaniel Beverley Tucker to Thomas Willis White
Letter
January 26, 1836

Law professor, novelist, and contributor to the Southern Literary Messenger, Beverley Tucker (1784-1851) evaluated Poe's work as a reviewer and editor in this letter to the publisher of the magazine. After noting that he has "not admired all of Mr. P's productions," Tucker supported Poe's criticism of the tendency to praise (or puff) authors out of friendship or ambition (you puff my work, then I'll puff yours). And Tucker went onto offer strong praise, observing that Poe's "review ... in your last number was a specimen of criticism, which for niceness of discrimination, delicacy of expression, and all that shows familiarity with the art, may well compare with any I have ever seen."

Boston Public Library, Rare Books & Manuscripts