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Austen and Poe: 10 Things They Have in Common

7/18/2017

20 Comments

 
Image of Jane Austen with curls peeking out from under a bonnet
Image of Poe with dark curls, brows, and mustache
On the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen's death today, I was struck by the similarities between her and Edgar Allan Poe, inspiration for The Tell-Tale Tarte, my latest mystery.  
​
1. Mark Twain dissed them both, and in a single sentence. Twain said of Poe: “To me his prose is unreadable—like Jane Austen’s.”
2. Both are honored with action figures, as is Shakespeare, but not Mark Twain (only a bobble head).   
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​3. Both died young: Austen at 41, Poe at 40.
 
4. Both published in the first half of the 19th century: Jane Austen’s major works came out in the 1810s, Poe’s in the 1830s and 1840s.
 
5. Both had difficulty getting published and earning a living from their writing. Poe needed money more desperately than Austen, whose poverty was genteel.
Poe action figure with raven on his shoulder and Austen action figure with a book in one hand and a quill pen in the other
Cover of Sense and Sensibility by a Lady
Cover of Tamerlane and Other Poems by a Bostonian
6. Both published anonymously at first: Sense and Sensibility was BY A LADY, Tamerlane and Other Poems was BY A BOSTONIAN. Jane Austen’s name did not appear on any of her works until after her death. While Poe later published under his own name, he also used several pseudonyms.
 
7. Both were influenced by Gothic literature, with its gloomy settings, haunted castles, and supernatural elements, but in different ways: Austen poked fun at Gothic fiction in Northanger Abbey, whereas Poe took it to new heights, though depths might be a better word given the frequency of live burial in his writings.

8. Both created models for genre fiction: Austen for the modern romance novel, Poe for horror, psychological suspense, and the detective story.
 
​9. Their works fetch the highest prices at auction. A first edition of Poe’s Tamerlane and Other Poems set a record for an American book with an auction price of $662,500 in 2009. A manuscript of Austen’s unfinished work, The Watsons, went for approximately  $1.5 million at auction.  
10. Each has become a cultural icon with a recognizable face, which has appeared on postage stamps and, in Jane Austen’s case, on legal tender. Her image is on a new ten-pound note. She has inspired “more sequels, prequels, and fan fiction than any other classic author." Poe has more than 250 writing credits listed in IMDb (Internet Movie Database).  He is the only author with an NFL football team named for one of his poems, also the subject of a Simpsons’ episode, pop culture at its best.  ​

​Can you think of any other parallels between Austen and Poe? To win a copy of my Poe-themed mystery, The Tell-Tale Tarte, leave a comment by July 25th.  UPDATE: Congratulations to Jenne, who won the book!

Read more about Poe on my site: Poe's Invention of the Detective Story, Poe and Lincoln, and Poe Trivia. 
20 Comments
Autumn Trapani
7/18/2017 04:30:37 pm

I can't think of any other parallels between Austen and Poe. Austen has her own place in pop culture with "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies."

Reply
Maya Corrigan
7/18/2017 05:27:00 pm

Hi Autumn, Thanks for your comment. That book definitely connects Austen with both pop culture and Poe's stories about people walking around after death and/or burial.

Reply
Jenne Turner
7/18/2017 05:38:42 pm

They both have great first lines in their books. "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife" and "Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, . . ." both immediately bring each work to mind of happy readers.

Reply
Maya Corrigan
7/20/2017 07:43:17 am

Hi Jenne, Thank you for your comment. Those are first lines that really stick in the mind.

Reply
Jess D
7/18/2017 09:12:18 pm

They both were very gothic. Thanks for the chance

Reply
Maya Corrigan
7/20/2017 07:45:35 am

Hi Jess, Thank you for your comment. Good luck in the drawing.

Reply
Jennifer Hansen
7/18/2017 11:47:28 pm

I remember reading Tell Tale Heart in high school - was a great story! parkeremma2003 at yahoo dot com

Reply
Maya Corrigan
7/20/2017 07:46:29 am

Hi Jennifer, That story has stuck in my mind too ever since I read it in school. Thanks for commenting.

Reply
Kathleen Kendler
7/19/2017 02:49:20 am

They both attended boarding school. Jane Austen at the young age of 7 and Poe later in life (United States Military Academy).

Reply
Maya Corrigan
7/20/2017 08:39:36 am

Hi Kathleen, Thank you for pointing out another similarity. Poe attended a boarding school when he was 7-8 years old, in Chelsea, England. His foster family from Richmond, Virginia, lived in England from 1815 to 1820.

Reply
Brittany Abbott
7/19/2017 10:05:06 am

I can't think of anything to add to this list. I had no idea that they had action figures.

Reply
Maya Corrigan
7/20/2017 08:42:46 am

Hi Brittany, Thank you for your comment. I became aware of the Austen action figure at a Folger Shakespeare Library exhibit called "Will and Jane." It dealt with the pop culture aspects of Shakespeare and Austen and included action figures of both of them.

Reply
Cathi Gil
7/19/2017 03:18:40 pm

I can't think of anything to add to the list. I remember them both from high school. I never knew they had action figures either.

Reply
Maya Corrigan
7/20/2017 08:44:52 am

Hi Cathi,Thank you for your comment. I didn't know about the action figures either until I visited a Folger Shakespeare Library exhibit called "Will and Jane," where action figures of both Shakespeare and Austen were on display.

Reply
MaryAnn Forbes
7/19/2017 05:17:48 pm

Very interesting; enjoyed the similarities.
I enjoyed Cathi's comment about high school-- definitely made me smile.

Reply
Maya Corrigan
7/20/2017 08:46:33 am

Hi MaryAnn, Thank you for your comment. Like you and Cathi, I also first read Poe in high school.

Reply
Meg
7/20/2017 01:30:24 am

I really don't have anything to add, but what a great pairing. Thank you for the opportunity and a very enjoyable read.

Reply
Maya Corrigan
7/20/2017 08:47:41 am

Hi, Meg, Thank you for your comments. I'm glad you enjoyed reading the post..

Reply
Beth Schmelzer link
7/20/2017 06:18:10 am

You may enjoy this book:
The Raven's Bride: A Novel, Feb 15, 2011
by Lenore Hart. She is a local author, married to David Poyer, and she also wrote a book called "Becky," a retelling of Becky Thatcher's life.
Beth, who hopes to see you at SinC anniversary party in August

Reply
Maya Corrigan
7/20/2017 08:56:24 am

Hi Beth, Thanks for you comment. I'll have to check out The Raven's Bride. Alas, I won't be able to go to the SinC anniversary party but I may see you at another SinC event. Enjoy it.

Reply

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    Maya Corrigan

    This blog, like the books and stories I write, combines mysteries, food, trivia, and a bit of humor to leaven the grim subject of crime. Sometimes random subjects intrude here .

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