Happy Birthday, Edgar Allan Poe

So Edgar turns 202 today. Or maybe he’ll always be 40, as he was when he died in Baltimore in 1845.

Your choice.

Gris Grimly, one of my favorite artists, illustrated two volumes of Poe material: “Tales of Mystery and Madness,” and “Tales of Death and Dementia.” Tons of illustrations throughout, so it makes for some pretty good eye candy if that’s you’re intent when buying it (that was mine).

And, if you’re keeping track, no Poe Toaster again this year. That’s two years in a row after leaving cognac and roses on Poe’s grave for 60 years. Maybe one of the Toaster impostors will take up the tradition permanently. That’s what I’m hoping anyway.