Midnight Dreary

While traveling alone from Richmond, Virginia, to New York City, Poe disappeared for nearly a week. When seen again he was terribly drunk and nearly dead in Baltimore. In the hospital, four days later, after periods of raving delirium, he died. The immediate cause of death given was "congestion of the brain." At first no one seriously doubted that Poe died from drunken debauchery. However, Poe adherents suggested many theories of a physical nature about precipitating causes but no one has seroiusly probed the mystery of the missing week . . . until now.

Praise

“A ripping, gripping investigation...an utterly engaging and original work of detection.” —Kirkus Reviews

“An engrossing account of what remains a strange and puzzling episode in America's literary history.” —Parade

About the Author(s)

John Evangelist Walsh

John Evangelist Walsh is the author of more than a dozen books of history and biography, includingDarkling I Listen: The Last Days and Death of John Keats.

Table of Contents

Prologue: The Case Reopened * Enter Poe * Enter the Widow * "We Regret to Learn..." * Witness Time * Five Lost Days * The Sartain Interval * What Mrs. Smith Knew * Suddenly a Tapping * Epilogue: Exit the Widow * Appendix: The Letters of Elmira Shelton * Notes and Sources