Poe Abroad : Influence, Reputation and Affinities

In this work, the editor has brought together a collection of essays that document the American writer's influence on the diverse literatures - and writers - of the world. Over 20 scholars demonstrates how and why the Baltimore writer as significantly influenced many of the major literary figures of the last 150 years. Part one includes studies of Poe's popularity among general readers, his influence on literary movements, and his reputation as a poet, fiction writer, and literary critic. Part two presents analyses of the role Poe played in the literary development of specific writers representing many different cultures. This book commemorates the 150th anniversary of Poe's death and celebrates his worldwide impact, beginning with the first literal translation of Poe into a foreign language, "The Gold-Bug" into French in 1845. Charles Baudelaire translated another Poe tale in 1848 and years later wrote an essay that would make Poe a well-known author in Europe even before he achieved recognition in America. Poe died knowing only that some of his stories had been translated into French. He probably never would have imagined that his work would be admired and imitated as far away as Japan, China, and India or would have lasting influence on writers such as Baudelaire, August Strindberg, Franz Kafka, Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortazar, and Tanizaki Junichiro.