Comments on: Did Poe Really Say That?

By: David Ridge

David Ridge — Sun, 08 Mar 2015 17:57:55 +0000

The alleged quote was one of my mothers most fav quotes. About 8 maybe 12 years ago I was doing a search on the alleged quote and I stumbled on one where somebody had added,”and a quarter you know to be true.” Has anybody anywhere even stumbled across the quarter part?

By: Sian

Sian — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 00:39:58 +0000

Does anyone have any idea where “Let me glimpse inside your velvet bones” came from? I found this attributed to Poe and thought it sounded so interesting that I wanted to read the whole thing in full and in context, but I can’t find anything about it. I’m beginning to think Poe didn’t actually say it. Even if he didn’t, I still want to know where this came from!

By: Little Gothic Horrors

Little Gothic Horrors — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 23:22:52 +0000

I’m so glad that you have compiled this list and I will be sharing the link across social media. The ‘Come Little Children’ false attribution to Poe drives me mad. ‘Hocus Pocus’ is an adorable Halloween movie, but quite how Sarah Sanderson’s song became connected with Poe baffles me. Just goes to show the power of the internet. I’ve read quotes from Brock Walsh in which he claims authorship of the lyrics, and although flattered, has no idea where the Poe rumour started. It is such a widespread and firmly entrenched belief that they are Poe’s words however, that I think it will be almost impossible to correct.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 22:59:05 +0000

Thank you, Undine! I was not aware of the “How to Write a Blackwood Article” quote, so I thank you for bringing that to my attention.

Thank you for sharing your favorite quote! That is indeed a fantastic opening sentence.

By: Undine

Undine — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 01:52:13 +0000

A few of those are new to me. The supply of bogus Poe quotes is virtually endless, what?

I think quotes #14 and #22 were from one of those “Edgar Allan Poe” Twitter accounts, but I’m not sure about that. I’ve seen a number of tweets from those accounts re-quoted as if they were actual Poe lines.

“If you are ever drowned or hung, be sure and make a note of your sensations” is pretty close to a line from “How to Write a Blackwood Article.” (“Should you ever be drowned or hung, be sure and make a note of your sensations — they will be worth to you ten guineas a sheet.”

As for my favorite genuine Poe line–I could name several dozen, but ” The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge” has to rank as one of the greatest opening sentences ever.