Category Archives: Poe

Dear Edgar 39 ~ The Pit and the Pendulum

Posted on July 29, 2025 by Mark Hayes

It is a perfect tale in that respect, in that it does exactly what Poe set out to do. It gets under your skin, and crawls about… Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, Dear Edgar, horror, movies, Poe, Uncategorized | Tagged amreading, books, fiction, film, horror, movies, reads, writer, writerslife | Leave a comment

Dear Edgar 28 ~ The Mystery of Marie Roget

Posted on July 21, 2025 by Mark Hayes

‘Based on true events’ is a cliche, a trope so common we pay it no mind. Writers have been using it for years… In fact it is not unreasonable to say they have been using it since the autumn of 1842 when our own Dear Edgar dipped his toes in that particular well. Continue reading →

Posted in Dear Edgar, horror, movies, Poe, reads | Tagged amreading, book reviews, book-review, books, Dear Edgar, fiction, mystery, Poe, reads, writers | 1 Comment

Dear Edgar 37 ~ The Landscape Garden

Posted on July 15, 2025 by Mark Hayes

the Landscape garden, a story by Dear Edgar that is not exactly worth your time… with an explanation of why that is the case. and an expose on 1840’s women’s magazines Continue reading →

Posted in Dear Edgar, Poe, reads, retro book reviews | Tagged amreading, books, Dear Edgar, fiction, philosophy, Poe, reads | 1 Comment

Dear Edgar 36 – The Masque of the Red Death

Posted on July 11, 2025 by Mark Hayes

In the world of art there are many indisputable masterworks. True masterpieces that transcend the art world. Van Gothe’s Sunflowers. DeVince’s Mono Lisa. Vermeer’s Girl with a pearl earring. Goya’s The nude Maja, Giorgione’s The Sleeping Venus, that one by … Continue reading →

Posted in horror, Poe, reads, retro book reviews | Tagged amreading, books, Dear Edgar, fiction, horror, literature, Poe, poetry, reads, writers | Leave a comment

Dear Edgar 35 ~ The Oval Portrait

Posted on July 9, 2025 by Mark Hayes

On occasion, when you spend time in the company of dead authors, you come across an obscure little story that inspired something far more well known. Occasionally the original feels like it is a pastiche of the more famous work. … Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, Dear Edgar, Poe, reads | Tagged amreading, book-review, books, Dear Edgar, horror, literature, Poe, reads, writing | 1 Comment

Dear Edgar 34 # Three Sundays in a Week

Posted on July 4, 2025 by Mark Hayes

Occasionally, amid explorations of obsession and madness, horror and satire, existentialism and human frailty… You just need to tell a ridiculous tall tale or two to keep yourself amused. Nothing could be even slightly problematic about that could it… Well… … Continue reading →

Posted in humour, Poe, reads, retro book reviews, Uncategorized | Tagged amreading, books, Dear Edgar, fiction, Poe, poetry, reading, reads, writing | Leave a comment

Dear Edgar 33 – Eleonora

Posted on July 2, 2025 by Mark Hayes

The One remains, the many change and pass;Heaven’s light forever shines, Earth’s shadows fly;Life, like a dome of many-coloured glass,Stains the white radiance of Eternity, Our dear Edgar, as you are doubtless aware, was something of a romantic, or at … Continue reading →

Posted in Poe, reads, retro book reviews | Tagged amreading, book-review, books, Dear Edgar, fiction, literature, Poe, reads, writing | Leave a comment

Dear Edgar – 32 : Never Bet the Devil Your Head

Posted on June 18, 2025 by Mark Hayes

Toby’s mother was sinister handed and used to flog him with her left hand. Apparently, this is considered to be most improper. This unfortunate parenting has driven Dammit to become overly fond of making spurious bets and the expression “I’ll bet the devil my head”. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, Poe, reads, Uncategorized | Tagged amreading, Dear Edgar, Poe, reads | Leave a comment

Dear Edgar ~31 : The Colloquy of Monos and Una

Posted on June 9, 2025 by Mark Hayes

There are (in this tale) broad themes in regards to life, death, the impermanence of existence, decay both moral and physical.

It really is a bundle of laughs…. Continue reading →

Posted in amreading, book reviews, opinion, Poe, reads, retro book reviews | Tagged books, Dear Edgar, fiction, literature, philosophy, Poe, reads, writing | 1 Comment

Dear Edgar 28~ The Murders in the Rue Morgue

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Mark Hayes

At some point in your life you will have learned of this story, you will most likely not recollect when and how you learn of it, but you know of the story. ‘The Murders in the Rue Morgue’ is one of those stories that is part of the zeitgeist of humanity. It is a story so intrinsic to our collective culture, so ingrain within us, so referenced and repeated, that it exists beyond itself. Continue reading →