"All She Wanted Was to Get Her Poetry Published"
Mrs. Poe
By: Lynn Cullen
Genres: Romance Historical
Posted: November 24, 2013
Frances is trying to survive in 1845 in New York City. Her husband, a philandering painter, has abandoned her and their two young children while he woos the socialites of the time. Unfortunately, Frances is encountering only rejections from every publisher as all they are clamoring for are more Edgar Allan Poe tales, particularly in the vein of "The Raven". When Frances has the opportunity to meet the infamous poet, she agrees to do so, never knowing the cycle of events that will follow. Will the forbidden attraction that arises between them destroy them both? And how will Frances handle the repeated attempts at friendship from MRS. POE?
MRS. POE is a darkly seductive book, one that draws the reader into the mysterious relationship between Frances, Edgar, and Virginia (Edgar's wife). Lynn Cullen does a beautiful job crafting an atmosphere befitting the Master of Horror, Edgar Allan Poe. I love the sense of mystery Lynn Cullen evokes in MRS. POE, even as we know just how the tale will end. The added twist of danger adds a very Poe-like quality to the storyline and kept me up late reading long past my bedtime.
MRS. POE is the best historical book I've read in quite a long time and one that leaves me wanting to read more, even as I know the story has fully ended. A sign of a good historical book to me is one that makes me want to dig further into the time period and MRS. POE succeeds with this. I like the addition of other historical figures, such as the oily Mr. Griswold and the somewhat cutting Ms. Ellet even as we see a more vulnerable side of Edgar Allan Poe than is normally portrayed. MRS. POE is highly recommended!
Book Summary
A vivid and compelling novel about a woman who becomes entangled in an affair with Edgar Allan Poe—at the same time she becomes the unwilling confidante of his much-younger wife.
It is 1845, and Frances Osgood is desperately trying to make a living as a writer in New York; not an easy task for a woman—especially one with two children and a philandering portrait painter as her husband. As Frances tries to sell her work, she finds that editors are only interested in writing similar to that of the new renegade literary sensation Edgar Allan Poe, whose poem, “The Raven” has struck a public nerve.
She meets the handsome and mysterious Poe at a literary party, and the two have an immediate connection. Poe wants Frances to meet with his wife since she claims to be an admirer of her poems, and Frances is curious to see the woman whom Edgar married.
As Frances spends more and more time with the intriguing couple, her intense attraction for Edgar brings her into dangerous territory. And Mrs. Poe, who acts like an innocent child, is actually more manipulative and threatening than she appears. As Frances and Edgar’s passionate affair escalates, Frances must decide whether she can walk away before it’s too late...
Set amidst the fascinating world of New York’s literati, this smart and sexy novel offers a unique view into the life of one of history’s most unforgettable literary figures.
Read an Excerpt
by: Lynn Cullen
Gallery Books
October 1, 2013
On Sale: September 24, 2013
Featuring:
320 pages
ISBN: 1476702918
EAN: 9781476702919
Kindle: B00ADS36DM
Hardcover / e-Book