An Embattled Poet, a Pilloried Bird: How Poe's "Raven" Became America's Most Famous Poem

"Paul Lewis's QUOTHING 'THE RAVEN' is a wonderful romp through the sea of parodies that proliferated in the wake of the publication of Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven' in 1845. Here we meet not the saintly, stately Raven of Poe's poem, but 'The Owl,' 'The Turkey,' 'The Gazelle,' and even 'The Bed Bug.' Gathering these parodies together for the first time, Lewis expertly guides readers through the chaotic world of Antebellum magazines and newspapers that Poe himself navigated. Lewis has written an absolutely delightful book full of both humor and wisdom about America's most famous poem." --Sandra Tomc, professor of English Language and Literature, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, and author of INDUSTRY AND THE CREATIVE MIND

"QUOTHING 'THE RAVEN' is a significant contribution to Poe scholarship and a genuine pleasure to read. Poe said that he wrote his most famous poem 'for the express purpose of running,' and Paul Lewis shows us how it 'ran' through 1840s pop culture and reshaped Poe’s career and reputation. The parodies themselves are fascinating, and the context Lewis provides for them is invaluable. This book is essential to understanding how 'The Raven' became America's favorite poem." --Scott Peeples, author of THE MAN OF THE CROWD and THE AFTERLIFE OF EDGAR ALLAN POE

 

Paul Lewis is a professor emeritus at Boston College, past president of the Poe Studies Association, the curator of exhibitions on literary Boston, and the neologist who coined the word “Frankenfood.” The author of books and articles on humor, American literature, gothic fiction, and literary Boston, Lewis edited The Citizen Poets of Boston: A Collection of Forgotten Poems, 1789-1820, for the University Press of New England. His newest book, Quothing "The Raven": The First Responses to America's Most Famous Poem, will be released October 6, 2026 from Mercer University Press.