EDGAR ALLEN POE CODEX

Our first of Poe’s comedy cards reflects a particular moment in a story that is too fantastical to be taken too seriously; the story centers around the discovery and subsequent revitalization of a mummified corpse from ancient Egypt. The animated mummy has an extended conversation with ‘modern intellectuals’ of Poe’s day. Our card hints at how that chat goes.

Our card art is an homage to the movie poster of John Carpenter’s ‘They Live’. In this silly story of vanity and arrogance, Poe plays a rather cruel trick on our shortsighted narrator. Moral of the story: Get your eyes checked!

What would you do if you awoke one morning to find that you cannot breathe at all anymore? In this dark comedic tale, Poe explores one man’s journey to find his lost breath. This is one of Poe’s more odd tales, as Mr Lackobreath is subjected to macabre misadventures that we read with devilish delight. Just wait until he discovers his dead ‘windbag’ of a neighbor!

This bizarre tale reads like a drunken fever dream! A very logical, albeit inebriated, narrator finds his reading material too heavy, so he scans the newspaper for lighter fare. After reading of an accidental death by sucking in a blow dart, our narrator calls the story too sensational to be true, written for effect only. This necessitates a visit from the Angel of the Odd, and a series of events happens that is meant to convince the man that the strangest coincidences often occur in our everyday lives. This satirical comedy plays loose with timing to create a whirlwind adventure for our once skeptical narrator!

A man of quiet demeanor blames his drinking for uncharacteristic acts of animal cruelty that ultimately lead to his downfall in this classic tale of madness, murder, and overconfidence. Our narrator gradually descends into cruelty after taking excessive revenge on a beloved cat. His cycle of cruelty expands, affecting other loved ones as well. Although he tries to conceal his actions, the animals around him plan to hold him accountable for his deeds.

The themes of madness and overwhelming guilt are central to one of Poe’s most famous and widely read tales. In this story, Poe guides us through the deteriorating thoughts of a man who has reached his breaking point, yet he attempts, unsuccessfully, to control his mind and actions. The unreliable narrator is brilliantly portrayed, as he convinces the reader of the brilliance and sanity of his fractured psyche. Our card illustrates the old man’s eye, which drives the narrator to succumb to his condition. Be careful not to stare at it for too long…

This short tale is rich in symbolism and is part of our series of cards that convey the message that no matter how high the wall you build, you must take responsibility for your actions, or they will come back to haunt you in the end. The artwork on our “Cask of Amontillado” card depicts Fortunato’s perspective on Montresor’s plot.

This story truly frightened me. By 1844, when he was 35 years old, Poe had honed his craft to a masterful level. He skillfully guides your mindset to where he wants it, then immerses you in a literal nightmare scenario. It’s brilliant! Our Card art depicts one of the ‘inhumations’ described in the story.

Presented as a factual account, the Facts of the Case of M. Valdemar briefly shook the medical community when hypnosis appeared to have allowed the subject of the account to exist and communicate past his death. Though thinly veiled to today’s reader, the ‘science’ of hypnosis - or mesmerism as it was called in the day, was all the rage at the time and Poe’s account used contemporary terms to describe details that made the whole thing seem plausible. It’s shocking end portends caution when seeking to learn more of the line between life and death.

Communication with the dead has long been the subject of human interest - the idea that we can learn, from a firsthand account, what transpires when we die leads to many a person who leaves logic and reason behind for a chance to know what is inherently unknowable.

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The case of M. Valdemar depicts a serious exploration of our relationship with existence, but it also serves as a cautionary tale about interfering with the unknown. Our card reveals the shocking outcome of this endeavor. After seven months, witness the delayed fate of Monsieur Ernest Valdemar.

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Ligeia is a blend of many of the topics Poe explores, including obsessive love lost, the supernatural, psychological trauma, and detachment/addiction. Our first card in the Ligeia cycle shows our narrator’s perfect love, the object of all praise and devotion: the Lady Ligeia.

The loss of Ligeia is deeply unsettling, and our narrator barely recovers enough to remarry, though Rowena is no Ligeia. As our narrator’s state diminishes, so does the health of his new bride. Our card shows Rowena in the throes of her illness, and the spectre of the previous marriage hangs over the deathbed.

Our narrator’s unraveling, opium-fueled obsession with his perfect love consumes him completely. Is this a tale of horror, obsession, and possession, or could this be Poe’s take on ‘love conquers all’? The final card in the cycle shows the result of a broken mind and heart.

This satire pits a would-be philosopher/restaurateur against the devil himself (a connisseur of philosophers’ souls). Witty repartee and puns abound as Bon Bon works to impress the eyeless Devil with his perception, but the only thing he impresses upon his guest is that he is a drunkard.

More satire from Poe - this time he attacks humanity’s propensity to become obsessed with order. The town of Vondervotteimittiss is on a strict schedule run by the dependable clock tower in the city square. What happens when a mischievous, violin-toting imp has designs on running the clock? All hell breaks loose!

This text serves as a satire of the self-righteous and hypocritical society that Edgar Allan Poe critiques so harshly. The story was a direct response to his critics who questioned his moral values in storytelling. Although the title is quite revealing, the tale is filled with a satirical take on moral absolutism.

“The Pit and the Pendulum” has been adapted numerous times, particularly in film. Edgar Allan Poe’s story, set during the Spanish Inquisition, clearly reflects his views on its perpetrators. The narrative heavily emphasizes the fear of the unknown, building suspense and terror as the pendulum swings ever downward.

Out of the titular Pit comes a mixed blessing. Hungry rats swarm our narrator’s cell while he is bound, and the Pendulum swings—can he use this to his benefit?

Our narrator lends credence to the saying ‘out of the frying pan and into the fire’. Here we witness his last moments of struggle in his cell - if only there were a deus ex machina!

This is broadly considered the very first Mystery/Detective story. Poe’s amateur detective, Dupin, uses logic and reasoning to solve a series of murders that have local law enforcement at a complete loss. Even though the outcome is a little bananas, the mark this tale leaves on the literary world is indelible.

This story is the final of a trilogy of detective tales centered around C. August Dupin. The Purloined Letter is notable as a detective story, as it unfolds entirely within a single room, albeit across a couple of scenes. Purloin means ‘to steal’. Poe uses the word masterfully to encapsulate this story of ambition, blackmail, and exceptional detective skills!

Here we have the first murder mystery book based on a true crime event, kinda like Law and Order! Poe was truly ahead of his time! Poe changed the locale of the murder from New York City, where he was living at the time, to be set in Paris, so instead of the body being found in the Hudson River, it was floating in the Seine. This is looked at as the sequel to the Murders at the Rue Morgue and the second in the Dupin Mysteries.

In a satirical twist on storytelling, Poe expands upon the epic tale of One Thousand and One Nights by adding an additional day. This time, Shaherazade tells a story that highlights some of the technological advances of Poe’s era. Despite her accurate recounting, King Shahryar finds her tale too fantastical and unbelievable, even after enjoying stories of Aladdin, Ali Baba, and Sinbad. As a result, Shaherazade meets the same fate as the king’s other wives on this night.

In this classic reversal of the phrase ‘the lunatics running the asylum,’ Poe flips the script on an unsuspecting traveler, leaving the reader to ponder the bizarre actions happening in this ill-fated mental institution.

A family estate, torn apart both figuratively and literally, forms the backdrop of this tale of sorrow. A friend’s attempts to uplift and restore happiness to his childhood acquaintance fall short of the mark. Our card reflects a temporary ‘situation’ for the sister of the household.

Whatever leads to the Fall of this family — a curse, hereditary evil, or just bad luck — it was set in motion long before the events of this story unfold. In our card, we bear witness to its tragic end.

Perhaps Poe’s best known piece, and certainly his most famous poem, the short tale of a love lost is a moody example of his mastery. If you have yet to take the twelve minutes asked of you to hear Poe’s The Raven read aloud, do yourself the service of doing that right now. It’s on YouTube…we’ll wait.

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Wasn’t that amazing? Did you choose the Christopher Lee reading? The words of this poem flow and seep into our souls, the longing and loss lingering through each verse. The harsh and final words of the Raven give no hope of appeal.

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The wealthy often feel relieved from many of life’s burdens. They believe they are shielded from the daily struggles of ordinary people. Disconnected from the harsh realities of a city grappling with a pandemic, they hold a masquerade ball to celebrate their perceived untouchable status. However, an unexpected guest crashes the party, reminding the elite that they, too, are only human.

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Finally, we pay Omaaj to Poe at his most glorious - at the writing desk. His thoughts swirl with flashes of the macabre. Madness flows from his pen, challenging comfort and sanity to all who dare enter his realm!