THE RAVEN together with the PHILOSOPHY OF COMPOSITION

A GENUINE DATE-STAMPED 1930 EDITION OF EDGAR A. POES MONUMENTAL POEM, THE RAVEN (IN BEAUTIFUL CONDITION)
PRINTED AND BOUND IN NORWOOD, MA. WITH MASTERFUL ENGRAVINGS BY FERDINAND HUSZTI HORVATH (1891-1973)
THIS IS THE GENUINE 1ST EDITION FROM THE PUBLISHER (94 YEARS OLD) AND NOT A LATER REMAKE FROM THE 1970S
THIS EDITION ALSO INCLUDES POE'S ESSAY THE PHILOSOPHY OF COMPOSITION

This is a stunning edition of Poe's most well-known Poem, The Raven, coupled with some of the most beautiful works of art ever to grace a Poe book. This particular printing was illustrated by Mr. Horvath, made most famous for his works in the Walt Disney Studios. Unlike most Raven books, whose artwork was shared between most versions, this book's lavish collection is unto its own. I have gone back through the copywrite records from the publisher to determine it is their first printing. Poe books from the early portion of the 1900s are getting harder to find, with prices continually increasing throughout the years. I have seen some other institutions offering this book for over $1000. This is one of the most beautiful editions of this incredible poem ever. I would snag this one before it's gone...

A rare and captivating edition of "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe, printed in 1930. This edition features stunning and evocative artwork by Ferdinand Huszti Horvath, further enriching the profound and haunting atmosphere of Poe's timeless poem.

The book is a testament to the era's craftsmanship and attention to detail. Bound in deep black, the cover design harmoniously combines the gold-stamped raven, hinting at the dark and mysterious themes that Poe's poem explores.

Upon opening the book, readers will be greeted by meticulously printed pages that capture the essence of Poe's poetic masterpiece. The text is meticulously arranged and printed in a traditional typeface, evoking a sense of nostalgia and reverence for classic literature. Huszti Horvath's accompanying illustrations are interspersed throughout the pages, offering visual interpretations that accentuate the emotional intensity and melancholic beauty of "The Raven."

Huszti Horvath's artwork in this edition is enchanting and haunting, blending symbolism and realism to create a visual narrative that mirrors the poem's themes of grief, loss, and the human psyche. The illustrations skillfully capture the essence of Poe's poetic imagery, depicting scenes such as the midnight dreary, the raven itself, and the protagonist's descent into madness.

This 1930 printing of "The Raven" with Ferdinand Huszti Horvath's artwork is a literary gem and a collector's item of significant value. Its rarity, combined with the exquisite craftsmanship and the marriage of Poe's words with Huszti Horvath's evocative illustrations, make it a remarkable addition to any bibliophile's collection or a unique gift for admirers of Poe's macabre poetry.

The overall condition of this book is very good for being printed well over 90 years ago. The covers and spine have average age and shelf wear but display beautifully. The interior pages have some natural age toning but have been exceptionally well-preserved. It is undoubtedly one of the nicest I have ever owned or seen from the early 1900s.

INCLUDES THE RAVEN AS WELL AS THE PHILOSOPHY OF COMPOSITION

"The Raven" is a narrative poem by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. First published in January 1845, the poem is often noted for its musicality, stylized language, and supernatural atmosphere. It tells of a distraught lover whom a talking raven pays a mysterious visit. The lover, often identified as a student, is lamenting the loss of his love, Lenore. Sitting on a bust of Pallas, the raven further antagonizes the protagonist by constantly repeating the word "Nevermore." The poem uses folk, mythological, religious, and classical references.

Poe claimed to have written the poem logically and methodically to create a poem that would appeal to both critical and popular tastes, as he explained in his 1846 follow-up essay, "The Philosophy of Composition." A talking raven partly inspired the poem in the novel Barnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots of Eighty by Charles Dickens. Poe based the complex rhythm and meter on Elizabeth Barrett's poem "Lady Geraldine's Courtship" and used internal rhyme and alliteration throughout.

"The Raven" was first attributed to Poe in print in the New York Evening Mirror on January 29, 1845. Its publication made Poe famous in his lifetime, although it did not bring him much financial success. The poem was soon reprinted, parodied, and illustrated. Critical opinion is divided as to the poem's literary status, but it remains one of the most famous poems ever written.

The Illustrator:
Ferdinand Huszti Horvath was a Hungarian, successful New York-based illustrator and an inspirational sketch artist at the Disney studio from 1933 to 1937. He created art for many animated shorts but is perhaps best remembered for his uncredited work for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Between 1938 and 1939, Horvath worked for Columbia, designing models and layouts for Screen Gems shorts; later, in 1940, he sculpted puppets for Paramount's Puppetoons, making and selling porcelain figures. During World War II, Horvath worked on confidential designs for North American Aviation, then Howard Hughes. After the war, he made various toys and birdhouses out of wood, selling them by mail and calling their business "The Little Workshop."

"The Philosophy of Composition" is an 1846 essay written by American writer Edgar Allan Poe that elucidates a theory about how good writers write when they write well. He concludes that length, "unity of effect," and a logical method are important considerations for good writing. He also asserts that "the death... of a beautiful woman" is "unquestionably the most poetical topic in the world." Poe uses the composition of his poem "The Raven" as an example. The essay first appeared in the April 1846 issue of Graham's Magazine. It is still being determined if it is an authentic portrayal of Poe's method.

Poe's philosophy of composition
Generally, the essay introduces three of Poe's theories regarding literature. The author recounts this idealized process by which he says he wrote his most famous poem, "The Raven," to illustrate the theory, which is in deliberate contrast to the "spontaneous creation" explanation put forth, for example, by Coleridge as an explanation for his poem Kubla Khan. However, Poe's description of the writing process is so rigidly logical that some have suggested the essay was meant as a satire or hoax.

"The Raven" is a poem about a man who is heartbroken over the recent death of his beloved Lenore. As he passes a lonely December night in his room, a raven repeatedly taps on the door and then the window. ... After being let in, the raven flies to and lands on a bust of Pallas (an ancient Greek goddess of wisdom)