Текст книги "По следам детективов: увлекательные истории для изучения английского языка"

Edgar Allan Poe

(January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849)

Some people are born under a lucky star, while others are forced to resist the heavy blows of fate all their life. That’s how the world really works. However, we all must realize that hardships are a part of the precious gift called life. They make us stronger and wiser. They purify our souls. As the saying goes, “When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile.” Unfortunately, the life of Edgar Allan Poe was filled with losses, trials, and sadness and ended in а horrible tragedy. He died very young, but he managed to leave a significant mark on the world of literature. Poe’s contribution to the development of detective fiction was so great that, according to many, without him, we wouldn’t even have Sherlock Homes. Years later, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would say that Edgar Poe was “a model for all time.” The legendary writer’s last moments were the biggest mystery covered in darkness. The causes of Edgar Poe’s mysterious death are still unknown, though they have been the topic of persistent speculation over the years. Many theories exist, including serious illness and even murder. However, the circumstances of the incident and the sequence of events remain unclear. As I see it, the undisputed “father” of the detective story left behind him a mystery so puzzling that even the most illustrious detective Auguste Dupin, a fictional character created by Edgar Allan Poe, wouldn’t be able to solve it. Let’s together touch the enigmatic life of the greatest writer of all time and the man of extraordinary fate.

Edgar Allan Poe, an American writer, poet, literary critic, and the inventor of the detective novel, was born in Boston, on January 19, 1809, into the family of traveling actors Elizabeth and David Poe. Since childhood his life was full of tragic events. The legendary writer never really knew his parents. Just a year after Edgar Poe’s birth, his father abandoned their family and never returned. No one knows exactly about his fate, but reportedly he died the same year the writer’s mother did. By the age of three, little Edgar was orphaned. He was unofficially adopted by John Allan and his wife Frances, a well-to-do childless couple. His older brother Henry and younger sister Rosalie went to live with other families.

Poe was never reunited with his siblings as a family. Sadly, things weren’t easy for Rosalie and Henry, as if fortune turned back on them. For many years, Henry sailed around the world. On returning to Baltimore, he started writing short stories and poems. One of his works called “The Pirate” described the first relationship between Edgar Poe and his adolescent sweetheart Sarah Elmira Royster. Unfortunately, Henry died very young, when he was just twenty-four years old. Interestingly, his sister’s life was also covered in mystery and misfortunes. Even her exact date of birth was unknown. There was speculation that Rosalie was not the true child of either David or Eliza Poe, and that her real father was supposedly the prominent actor John Howard Payne. Even Edgar Poe added fuel to the fire when he once said that Rosalie was actually his older sister. Rumors persist that when Rosalie was still a child, a wealthy resident of Richmond left her an enormous fortune. She was the sole heiress in his will, which gave rise to many curious speculations, rumors, and legends. As for her foster family, no one knows exactly whether she was treated like a family member or merely a ward. Unfortunately, Rosalie’s adult life was also a failure. She was said to walk the streets trying to sell postcards of her famous brother. As I see it, she was devastated and scared. Being unemployed, it was the only possible way to earn her living. She had no one to rely on and was left alone to survive in this world. Eventually, she lost heart. Rosalie spent her last days in a charity home.

Let’s go back to the childhood of Edgar Poe. Taking pity on the baby, John and Frances Allan became his foster family, but they never adopted him officially. Poe seemed to have a strong bond with his foster mother, but he couldn’t find a common language with his foster father. In fact, John Allan was a wealthy merchant and wanted Edgar to follow in his footsteps. He didn’t approve of his passion for literature. Edgar, in turn, had no interest in taking up the family business. It’s not surprising that they didn’t get along well with each other. Though it’s commonly believed that opposites attract, in reality, the reverse is true. As I see it, Edgar Poe lived for his ideas and, like most writers, needed inspiration and privacy. Poe was a dreamer who lived in his little world, while his foster father was more down-to-earth and focused on material goods. Money had always been a touchy subject for John Allan, and he often accused Edgar of being ungrateful. No matter how complicated the relationship between Edgar and his foster father was, he got education at expensive boarding schools. Frances Allan was the complete opposite of her husband. She always gave Edgar care and attention and even encouraged his desire to become a poet.

In his teens, Poe fell in love with his neighbor Sarah Elmira Royster. They were secretly engaged to get married soon. Unfortunately, their plans were not destined to come true. At the time, they were too young: Sarah was fifteen and Edgar was sixteen. Besides, Sarah’s father was against their relationship and disapproved of his daughter’s choice. Later, Mr. Royster would confess that his disapproval was only because of their young age. Personally, I believe that Edgar was seen as an unsuitable match for his daughter because he was an orphan. So, when Poe went to the University of Virginia, he sent love letters to his sweetheart but got no answer. As it turned out later, Mr. Royster intercepted and destroyed his letters, and Sarah thought that Edgar had forgotten her. Heartbroken, she married Alexander Shelton, a merchant from a well-to-do family. Nobody knows how the life of Edgar and Sarah would have turned out if Mr. Royster hadn’t interfered with their relationship. However, it’s definitely clear that those events changed the course of Poe’s life forever. What may come as a surprise is that fate brought them together anyway, but that was many years later.

In 1827, after a year of studying at the University of Virginia, Poe dropped out. It is said that money was not enough for Edgar to pay for classes, textbooks, and a room. Mr. Allan gave him about a third of what he needed for his studies. It could have been one of the reasons why he started gambling and got into debt. The second most probable reason could have been longing for his lost love. Anyway, Edgar abandoned his studies and decided not to return to Richmond. You might have guessed why. His fiancée married another man, and that was a terrible blow for him. He headed back to his birthplace city Boston. I wonder why our hearts leap when we return to the place where we were born or grew up. As I see it, Edgar returned to his hearth and home to reflect on his family and to find spiritual harmony. Besides, he seemingly decided to burn his bridges with his foster father. Having started his life afresh, Edgar worked at any job that would allow him some income. Yet, money was tight, and things went wrong at work. When he realized that he had no means of livelihood, Poe enlisted in the army, hiding his real name and age. It was 1827, and he was just eighteen. While serving in the army, Edgar Allan Poe devoted his time to writing. His first literary work, a short collection of poems called Tamerlane and Other Poems, was published anonymously (the author was listed as “A Bostonian”). Today, it’s believed that only twelve of approximately fifty copies of the collection still exist. Unfortunately, this work wasn’t an immediate success.

He served for two years and even became a sergeant major of artillery. However, like a caged bird who dreams of flying in the sky, the legendary writer was also dreaming of freedom. He didn’t want to serve in the army anymore. When he revealed his true age and name, his commanding officer agreed to release him on one condition: Poe was to get in touch with his foster father, but it was not that easy. Shortly after, it turned out that Frances Allan was seriously ill, and Edgar was unable even to see her on her last journey. Her passing away was a big loss for both Edgar and Mr. Allan. The writer felt he had to work things out with his foster father. They were able to reconcile but not for long. They would have frequent fights and disputes. At the end of his life path, John Allan didn’t even mention Edgar in his will.

In 1829, Edgar Poe entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point but soon realized that it wasn’t for him. What do you think happened next? He was expelled from the Academy for disciplinary reasons. As I see it, it was a way to rebel against his foster father, teachers, or society. He was trying to find himself, the purpose of life, and his true calling by breaking rules. That same year, Edgar Poe headed to New York, where he planned to focus on writing stories. No sooner had he settled in a new place than he received terrible news: it turned out that his older brother Henry was seriously ill. Edgar left everything and went to Baltimore. As the saying goes, “Every cloud has a silver lining.” For a short while he reunited with his relatives: his older brother, aunt Maria Clemm, and grandparents. Unfortunately, shortly after, Henry died. Poe had a hard time, but all hardships, defeats, and setbacks seemingly built his character.

His personal life was also clouded in mystery. The genius writer married his cousin Virginia Clemm, who was many years younger than him, but the nature of their relationship was controversial. Some biographers speculate that Poe treated his wife like a sister, and his mother-in-law, Maria Clemm, like a mother. One thing is for sure: the iconic writer finally found a family. Virginia admired her husband. She filled his life with joy and meaning. She would often follow him on walks or sing songs for him sitting by the fireplace. The legendary writer taught her French and encouraged her to take singing and piano lessons. Poe’s friends mentioned that he flourished after getting married. The family was poor but happy, indeed.

Do you know that Edgar Poe had his muse? His inspirer was a tortoiseshell cat named Cattarina. Poe really enjoyed Cattarina’s company and would let her sit on his shoulder while he was writing. When his wife Virginia became seriously ill, the cat would curl up in the bed beside her. Historians believe that Cattarina became a part of Poe’s family. In 1847, Edgar suffered another terrible blow: Virginia died of tuberculosis. He was devastated and couldn’t cope with the pain of losing his beloved wife for a long time.

After much suffering, fortune seemed to smile on Edgar. He began seeing his adolescent sweetheart Sarah Royster Shelton, who had been widowed by then. It turned out that she had cherished the memory of her childhood love for all those years. Poe became engaged to her again, but their dreams weren’t destined to come true – the writer died under suspicious circumstances. Not long before he was to be married, Edgar Allan Poe disappeared, and no one knew where he had been for nearly a week. On September 27, 1849, he left his home in Richmond and had to go first to Philadelphia on business and then to New York to escort his aunt back to Richmond for his upcoming wedding. As it turned out, he never made it to either. On October 7, Poe was found semi-conscious wandering outside a local pub in Baltimore. How he could get there is still unknown. Poe never gave any explanation about what had happened to him, leaving crucial questions unanswered. The legendary writer was delirious and wearing someone else’s cheap clothes: a spotted worn-out coat, a pair of old shoes, and a straw hat. The man who found Edgar Poe recognized the well-known writer and offered his help. Then Poe was taken to hospital where he spent his last four days. The cause of his death remains a mystery, as all medical records, including his death certificate, have been lost. It’s known that Poe was kept in a windowless room, and the only one who interacted with him was Dr. John Moran. However, the question about the accuracy of the information provided by him remains controversial. Poe is said to call out the name Reynolds, but it’s still unclear to whom he referred. There was much speculation about the cause of his death including rabies, murder, alcohol, and illness. One of the most popular theories was that Poe was a victim of “cooping” – a common pre-election tactic by which people were kidnapped on the streets and forced to vote for a certain candidate against their will. This theory was supported by the fact that Poe was found on Election Day. There were rumors that Poe drank himself to death. However, the truth was that, according to many historians, Poe couldn’t handle alcohol. It had been documented that after a glass of wine he got drunk very quickly. Besides, a physician who tested Edgar Poe’s hair samples claimed that he had been avoiding alcohol for a few months. As for the rabies theory, some suggest that he could contract it from his cat Cattarina, who went to her eternal rest within weeks after his death. In fact, at the time there were no vaccines for pets. Another theory suggests that Poe could die of the flu complications – pneumonia. A few days before his departure from Richmond, he visited a physician complaining of illness. Surprisingly, his fiancée, Sarah, confirmed this theory, claiming that Edgar had a fever and a weak pulse. There were also rumors that Poe was likely murdered by Sarah’s brothers, who were against their marriage and might have threatened Edgar. The legendary writer like his fictional characters may have disguised himself and disappeared for a week, but was eventually found and beaten. However, none of these theories explain the mysterious death of the greatest writer.

Even after the iconic writer’s passing, his life began to overgrow with legends and false rumors. And who do you think could be behind this? Right, Poe’s rival who was jealous of his talent. When the writer died, Rufus Griswold became his self-proclaimed biographer who forged letters and painted him in a bad light as a drunkard and а madman. No matter what, Poe will always be remembered as one of the greatest writers of all time. Yet, there’s more to come. The mystery continues. What is known is that for sixty years after the writer’s death, a mysterious man dressed in black would visit Poe’s grave and leave three red roses (for Poe, his wife Virginia, and his mother-in-law Maria Clemm), and a note that said, “Edgar, I haven’t forgotten you.” Curiously, but nobody knows who that man was.

Edgar Allan Poe wrote many stories on different topics. Among his most famous works are “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Black Cat,” “The Mystery of Marie Rogêt,” “The Purloined Letter,” and, of course, his best-known poem “The Raven,” which brought him world-wide fame and recognition.

Vocabulary

be born under a lucky star [biː bɔːn ˈʌndə ə ˈlʌkɪ stɑː] – родиться под счастливой звездой

resist blows of fate [rɪˈzɪst bləʊz ɒv feɪt] – противостоять ударам судьбы

purify [ˈpjʊərɪfaɪ] – очищать

trial [ˈtraɪəl] – испытание

circumstances [ˈsɜːkəmstənsɪz] – обстоятельства

sequence of events [ˈsiːkwəns əv ɪˈvents] – последовательность событий

illustrious [ɪˈlʌstrɪəs] – знаменитый, выдающийся, блестящий

enigmatic [ˌenɪgˈmætɪk] – загадочный, таинственный

extraordinary [ɪkˈstrɔːrdəneri] – необычный, незаурядный

abandon one’s family [əˈbændən wʌnz ˈfæməli] – бросить семью

orphan [ˈɔːfən] – сирота; осиротевший

adopt [əˈdɑːpt] – усыновить, удочерить

well-to-do [wel tuː duː] – богатый, обеспеченный, состоятельный

wealthy [ˈwelθɪ] – состоятельный, богатый, зажиточный

reunite [ˌriːjuːˈnaɪt] – воссоединяться

fortune turned its back (on) [ˈfɔːʧən tɜːnd ɪts bæk ɑːn] – удача отвернулась (от)

adolescent sweetheart [ædəˈlesnt ˈswiːthɑːt] – возлюбленная в юности

misfortune [mɪsˈfɔːʧən] – несчастье, беда, злоключение

supposedly [səˈpəʊzɪdlɪ] – предположительно, якобы, по общему мнению

prominent actor [ˈprɑːmɪnənt ˈæktə] – известный актер

add fuel to the fire [æd fjʊəl tuː ðiː ˈfaɪə] – подливать масла в огонь

leave a fortune [liːv əˈfɔːʧən] – оставить состояние

sole heiress [səʊl ˈɛrəs] – единственная наследница

will [wɪl] – наследство

to treat [triːt] – обращаться, относиться

frustrated [frʌˈstreɪtɪd] – разочарованный, расстроенный

devastated [ˈdevəsteɪtɪd] – опустошенный, подавленный

to survive [səˈvaɪv] – выжить

to earn one’s living [ɜːn wʌnz ˈlɪvɪŋ] – зарабатывать себе на жизнь

charity home [ˈʧærɪtɪ həʊm] – дом милосердия

foster family [ˈfɑːstə ˈfæməlɪ] – приемная семья

to find a common language (with) [faɪnd ə ˈkɒmənˈlæŋgwɪʤ wɪð] – находить общий язык

to approve (of) [əˈpruːv əv] – одобрять

to get along well [get əˈlɒŋ wel] – хорошо ладить

opposites attract [ˈɑːpəzɪts əˈtrækt] – противоположности притягиваются

down-to-earth [daʊn tuː ɜːθ] – приземленный, не витающий в облаках

material goods [məˈtɪrɪəl gʊdz] – материальные блага

touchy subject [ˈtʌʧɪ ˈsʌbʤɪkt] – щекотливая тема

to encourage [ɪnˈkʌrɪʤ] – поощрять, одобрять

to be engaged to [biː ɪnˈgeɪʤd tuː] – быть помолвленным

unsuitable match [ʌnˈsuːtəbl mæʧ] – неподходящая партия

intercept [ˌɪntərˈsept] – перехватывать

drop out [drɑːp aʊt] – бросить, оставить

abandon studies [əˈbændən ˈstʌdɪz] – бросить учебу

gambling [ˈgæmblɪŋ] – азартная игра

fiancée [ˌfiːɑːnˈseɪ] – невеста, избранница

head [hed] – направляться, отправляться

start afresh [stɑːt əˈfreʃ] – начать заново, с чистого листа

have no means of livelihood [hæv nəʊ miːnz ɒv ˈlaɪvlɪhʊd] – не иметь средств к существованию

work things out [wɜːk θɪŋz aʊt] – наладить отношения, помириться, со всем разобраться

reconcile [ˈrekənsaɪl] – примириться

be expelled [biː ɪkˈspeld] – быть отчисленным, исключенным

rebel [rebl] – бунтовать

true calling [truː ˈkɔːlɪŋ] – истинное призвание

еvery cloud has a silver lining [ˈevrɪ klaʊd hæz ə ˈsɪlvə ˈlaɪnɪŋ] – нет худа без добра

reunite [riːjuːˈnaɪt] – воссоединяться, вновь объединяться

controversial [ˌkɑːntrəˈvɜːʃl] – спорный, сомнительный, противоречивый

muse [mjuːz] – муза

pass away [pɑːs əˈweɪ] – скончаться, умереть

devastated [ˈdevəsteɪtɪd] – опустошенный, подавленный

be widowed [biː ˈwɪdəʊd] – овдоветь

semi-conscious [ˈsemɪˈkɑːnʃəs] – в полубессознательном состоянии

be delirious [biː dɪˈlɪrɪəs] – быть в бреду, бредить

medical records [ˈmedɪkəl ˈrekɔːdz] – медицинские записи

rabies [ˈreɪbiːz] – бешенство

pre-election [priːɪˈlekʃn] – предвыборный

vote [vəʊt] – голосовать, избирать

flu complications [fluː kɑːmplɪˈkeɪʃnz] – осложнения гриппа

pneumonia [nuːˈməʊnɪə] – пневмония, воспаление легких

threaten [θretn] – угрожать, запугивать

disguise oneself [dɪsˈgaɪz wʌnˈself] – маскироваться

Exercises

Exercise 1. Answer the following questions:

1) When and where was Edgar Allan Poe born?

2) Who were his parents? What were their names?

3) What happened to his father?

4) How old was Edgar when he became an orphan?

5) Did Edgar Allan Poe have any siblings?

6) Who adopted Edgar Allan Poe?

7) What type of relationship did he have with his foster parents?

8) What was John Allan by profession?

9) How did the lives of Edgar’s siblings turn out?

10) Did Edgar Allan Poe get a decent education?

11) Who was Edgar Allan Poe’s adolescent sweetheart?

12) Why didn’t Edgar and Sarah get married when they were young?

13) Why did Edgar abandon his studies?

14) Why did he enlist in the army?

15) What was the first literary work that Edgar Allan Poe published?

16) Under what name did Edgar Allan Poe publish his first collection of poetry?

17) What was Edgar’s relationship with his wife?

18) Did Edgar Allan Poe have a muse?

19) What happened to his wife Virginia?

20) Did Sarah Royster Shelton divorce her husband?

21) Were Edgar and Sarah engaged?

22) Why did the wedding of Sarah and Edgar never take place?

23) Where was Edgar Allan Poe supposed to go on the day of his disappearance?

24) Where and under what circumstances was the great writer found?

25) How did he get to Baltimore?

26) What was the cause of his death?

27) Who spread rumors and forged letters after Poe’s death?

28) What are the best Edgar Allan Poe’s stories ever written?

29) Have you ever read any of Edgar Allan Poe’s books? If so, what is your favorite one?

30) Have you ever seen a film based on Edgar Allan Poe’s stories?

Exercise 2. Find the equivalents of the following words and phrases in the text:

найти свое истинное призвание; сворачиваться клубочком; вернуться к родным пенатам; бросить учебу; материальные блага; приемная семья; подлить масла в огонь; по слухам; обеспеченная, но бездетная семья; человек незаурядной судьбы; обстоятельства произошедшего; противостоять ударам судьбы; находить общий язык; оставить значительный след в мировой литературе; в конце своего жизненного пути; уйти из семьи; удача отвернулась от них; упасть духом; возлюбленная в юности; противоположности притягиваются; осложнения гриппа; приземленный человек; планам не суждено было сбыться; наладить отношения; палата без окон

Exercise 3. Give the Russian equivalents of the following words and phrases:

mystery covered in darkness; to leave crucial questions unanswered; purpose of life; to start gambling; to start life afresh; fate will bring them together; to be unemployed; to be born under a lucky star; to follow in one’s footsteps; a touchy subject; false rumors; things go wrong at work; a caged bird; to enjoy one’s company; to cope with the pain of losing; against one’s will; to go to one’s eternal rest; there’s more to come; as it turned out; to become a part of one’s family; to serve in the army; to interfere with one’s relationship; to disapprove of one’s choice

Exercise 4. Match each word with its synonym: