THE FIRE-FIEND and THE RAVEN
the story of a literary hoax.
by Charles Demarais Gardette & Edgar Allan Poe
with Illustrations by Stephen Fabian, Charles McGill
James B. Wandesford, Virgil Finlay, & Clarke Ashton Smith
GERRY DE LA REE, PUBISHER SADDLE RIVER, N. J. 1973
Stated at copyright: "This first edition limited to 450. This is No. '18 of 50 Bound, For Floyd Peill'" Essentially, one of fifty limited hardcover first editions. Large 9" x 11" oversize design. Jet black full cloth boards, crisp gilt impressed cover and spine titles, fine; protected in clear acetate sleeve. Pages near fine; few with slight discoloration; no writing. Bind fine, square; hinges intact. Beautifully and uniquely illlustrated by several talented artists with macabre and humored imagery throughout. Nine full-page designs with vignettes and decoration throughout. Near fine unique and limited rarity.
The introduction or prefatory section written by Gerry de la Ree, the author and publisher, explains how Charles Desmarais Gardette's poem, "The Fire-Fiend," was published a decade following Poe's death, and was initially promoted as an unpublished poem of Poe, and not Gardette's work himself. It was explained that this poem was pivotal in the development of Poe's most famed lyrical poem, "The Raven."
But, even though questioned at initial publication with the accompanying Gardette letter of explanation by the New York Saturday Press editors (with a simple by-line: "We don't see it"), the Gardette piece was then reprinted as a work of Poe in several publications through the mid nineteenth century.
Following this is Charles Gardette's actual poem, "The Fire-Fiend - A Nightmare," dynamically illustrated by Stephen Fabian. A unique stand alone piece of horror fantasy in its own right.
Then to enhance the story and lore, a reprinting of the 1865 volume written by Gardette to explain the events of this hoaxed poem not of E. A. Poe. It is presented here in fine facsimile form of the original leaves. And finally, the masterpiece by Edgar himself, The Raven, also intriguingly illustrated with a variety of contributing artists. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. Apprx. 100 pages. Insured post.
Edgar Allan Poe's hazy narrative begins on a night in December when "The Raven" haunts the unnamed narrator who sits reading "forgotten lore" to sublimate the loss of his love, Lenore. A "rapping at his chamber door" reveals nothing, yet excites his soul to "burning". A similar rapping, slightly louder, is heard at his window. When he investigates, a raven enters his chamber. Paying no attention, the raven perches atop a bust of Pallas high above the door.
Amused by the raven's comically serious disposition, the man asks that the bird tell him its name. The raven's only answer is "Nevermore". The narrator is surprised that the raven can talk, though at this point it has said nothing further. The narrator remarks to himself that his "friend" will soon fly out of his life, just as "other friends have flown before". The raven responds again with "Nevermore". The narrator reasons that the bird learned the word "Nevermore" from some "unhappy master" and that it is the only word it knows.
Regardless, the narrator pulls his chair directly in front of the raven, determined to learn more. He thinks for a moment, and his mind wanders to his lost Lenore. He thinks the air grows denser and feels the presence of angels, and wonders if God is sending him a sign that he is to forget Lenore. The bird again replies in the negative, suggesting that he can never be free of his memories. The narrator becomes angry, calling the raven a "thing of evil".
Finally, he asks whether he will be reunited with Lenore in Heaven. When the raven responds with its typical "Nevermore", he is enraged, and, calling it a liar, commands the bird to return to the "Plutonian shore", - but it does not move. The narrator's final admission is that his soul is trapped beneath the raven's shadow and shall be lifted "Nevermore".
