The Raven's Bride is the story of Edgar Allen Poe and his child bride, Virginia. Virginia is the main character and narrator of the story though even with great writing its hard to over shadow Poe or Eddy, as she calls him. I could not wait to start this book as Poe was one of my favorite subjects through grade school and middle school. All I knew of Poe's wife was that she was his cousin, much younger then him, and sickly. But judging from Lenore Hart's book she was quite a person in her own right. A talented pianist and singer who trained for and dreamed of a career in music, Virginia is full of passion for her husband and for music.
The book begins when Virginia is 8 years old and meets her cousin Edgar for the first time. By nine years of age Virginia realizes she is in love with her cousin. I have to admit when I reached the point where Virginia accepts Poe's proposal of marriage(at 13) I thought the story was pretty much over for me. Virgina had thrown her life away. What else was there to say about it? But the story of their marriage was surprisingly entertaining. Through the highs when Poe was a working magazine editor to the lows when Virginia's mother sold everything she could to put food on the table Virginia and Edgar are likable and interesting characters. Virginia never gives up supporting her talented husband while keeping her dream of a music career alive.
Read this book not just for the story of Virginia and Edgar Allen Poe but for also for the backdrop of Victorian America. Hart makes the time period come alive. All in all, a very enjoyable read.
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