Been doing a Poe double feature this week. Reading a Mystery of Mysteries made me want to pick back up where I left off about a year ago on The Complete Works Collection on Audible. I left off at the beginning of Gordon Pym. The sentiments of Poe scholar Edward Pettit sum Poe‘s only novel up best: “His novel…is a glorious mess. I love it…It‘s bizarre and weird but he can‘t sustain the grand effects he produces so masterfully in his short stories.”
pickThe only complete novel written by Poe.
This one tells the story of Arthur Gordon Pym, who goes away on a whaling ship with his best friend who just happens to be the Captain's son. Lots of things happen on his trip including mutiny, shipwreck and cannibalism.
I'd give this one a 3/5 due to the abrupt ending, I'm sitting here wondering what happened afterwards.
Still a pick though, very atmospheric, great writing. ✅
I was today years old when I found out that in this fictionalized story, a charter by the name of Richard Parker is stranded in a life boat and pulls the "short straw" 30 years later this same fate happens to a lad by the name of...
wait for it...
Richard Parker!
Just heard this on the podcast LORE!
The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket | 
