The Raven. By Edgar Poe. With a commentary by John
H. Ingram. (G. Redway.)—This is an interesting monograph on Poe's famous poem. First comes the poet's own account of the genesis of the poem, with a criticism, in which Mr. Ingram declines, very properly, we think, to accept the history as entirely genuine. Mach curious information is collected in this essay. Then follows the poem itself, with the various readings, and then its after-history ; and after these " Isadore," by Albert Pike, a composition which un- doubtedly suggested the idea of "The Raven" to its author. Several translations are given, two in French, one in prose, the other in rhymed verse ; besides extracts from others, two in German and one in Latin. But perhaps the most interesting chapter in the book is that on the " Fabrications." Like all famous works, it seems to have evoked an outburst of lying. A number of people seem possessed with a regular mania for claiming such works themselves, or pronouncing them to be thefts. What could have induced a respectable traveller, who gave his name, by the way, to have declared that The Raven was a literal translation from a Persian original ?
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