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The Poe Shadow [Abridged] [Audiobook] (Audio CD)

by Matthew Pearl (Author), Erik Singer (Reader)

3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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5 new from CDN$ 10.70 6 used from CDN$ 2.00

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Product Details

Audio CD
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio; 1 edition (May 23 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0743552652
ISBN-13: 978-0743552653
Product Dimensions: 15 x 13 x 3 cm
Shipping Weight: 200 g

Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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Product Description

From Publishers Weekly

Pearl's second historical thriller involving literary figures (after 2003's The Dante Club) is set in 1849, when young lawyer Quentin Clark's desire to burnish the tarnished reputation of his favorite author-poet, the recently deceased Edgar Allan Poe, drives him to such extremes he eventually winds up on trial for insanity and murder. His defense forms the novel. Singer provides Clark with a splendidly appropriate voice: young, intelligent, yet naïve and idealistic. He's also adept at capturing the attorney's shifting moods, from his indignation at journalists' shoddy sendoff of Poe (labeling him a debaucher and drunk) to an increasing obsession as he puts his practice and his impending marriage on hold, ocean-hopping to Europe to seek the aid of the real-life model for Poe's genius-sleuth, C. Auguste Dupin. Some listeners may raise an eyebrow at Singer's use of fractured French for one of the Dupins and an equally arch British accent for the other. They should be reminded that all of the characters are being filtered through the sensibilities (and vocal capabilities) of a not terribly sophisticated Baltimore barrister. Simultaneous release with Random House hardcover (Reviews, Mar. 13).
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From AudioFile

There's a mystery surrounding Edgar Allan Poe's death. Quentin Clark, lawyer and Poe devotee, risks his legal practice and his engagement to solve it, hoping to reverse the author's reputation for drinking and debauching. Clark discovers that C. Auguste Dupin, Poe's detective creation, is modeled after a real person, so he's off to Paris to find him. Erik Singer's understated performance resonates with credibility. Villains are thwarted and the truth uncovered using ratiocination, and Singer makes the first-person account completely plausible. He reads Matthew Pearl's blend of history and fiction with assurance. His phrasing and pronunciation reflect an excellent grasp of period diction, and his accents--American, British, and French--ring true. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Customer Reviews

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3.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)

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3.0 out of 5 stars Have patience this one grows on you, Jul 23 2009

By	Paul D. Leney "Paul" (Calgary, Alta Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Poe Shadow: A Novel (Paperback)

I went into this one blind not knowing what this author was like. Was I astounded ; no. It took awhile to get into the rythmn of his writing which is very precise & full of detail. On ocassion I wanted the narrator to hurry up and make his point. Well crafted and intelligent? Without a doubt. Towards the end when everything gets spelled out; that is when all the laborious detail comes into focus and you go "ah ha". So pick it up and enjoy. Not a quick or beach read that is for sure.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Lowly lies, Feb 22 2007

By	E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Poe Shadow: A Novel (Paperback)

I've always had a soft spot for the poetry and fiction of Edgar A. Poe, one of the greatest writers in American history, as well as the grandfather of whodunnits and modern horror.

And Matthew Pearl apparently has a soft spot too -- his follow-up to the bestselling "Dante Club" is a creepy, atmospheric, clever mystery surrounding the early death of Poe. The main character can be clueless, but it's made up for by genius detectives, retro writing, and musings on how a genius's art can affect others.

Edgar A. Poe is dead, unmourned and almost forgotten at the age of forty. This comes as a shock to pen pal Quentin Clark, who rapidly starts to suspect foul play. Even his recent engagement comes second to his wish to find out the facts. So he travels to Paris to find Auguste Duponte, the inspiration for Poe's brilliant C. Auguste Dupin, and convinces the reclusive ex-detective to come to Baltimore and solve the mystery.

Unfortunately, they are being followed by flashy Baron Dupin and his assassin wife; Dupin wants to make a name for himself, and pose as the REAL inspiration. Duponte ignores his obnoxious rival as he and Quentin go through Baltimore, collecting scant evidence, talking to witnesses and investigating Poe's own letters. But soon this investigation turns lethal, and Quentin finds himself as the primary suspect of Poe's death...

Edgar A. Poe's death is still something of a mystery, and people still debate what killed him. Rabies? Alcohol? TB? Nobody really knows, even now. So it was a brilliant stroke for Pearl to turn it into a murder mystery, complete with the real-life details as clues (such as Poe's dying cry of "Reynolds!"), and real-life people as characters.

Pearl writes like a 19th-century author transported to the 21st, with his true-to-the-time characterizations and slightly ornate prose. Even better, he spices up the whodunnit with meditations on genius -- how it can be misunderstood, how scandals can overshadow brilliant work, and even how great art can change our lives and free us from the mundane.

Atmospherically, it even resembles one of Poe's works. There are graveyards, misty streets, and the decayed grandeur of Baltimore. But Pearl includes a bit of comedy in the story, apparently to keep it from getting too grim, with the over-the-top Baron and his perky assassin/wife.

Quentin is probably the reigning flaw of the book. He's a naive, rather overeager young lawyer, but you'll want to kick him in the pants from time to time. But Duponte is a truly fascinating lead character in the vein of Poe's own writing, with his casual use of "ratiocination" (logical thinking) and his cool head.

"Poe Shadow" is not only a solid whodunnit, but a homage to one of the greatest American writers. Well-researched, dark and meditative, this is a wonderful historical mystery.

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