Can anyone explain Poe's relationship to Darwinism, science, and the evolution of the the universe? Thanks.

-- Anonymous, March 25, 2001

Answers

Carl,

Leaving aside the difficult part of your question about Poe's relationship with science and the universe, the first part is easy: there is no relationship between Darwin and Poe.

Darwin's big book 'The Origin of Species' wasn't published until 1859, ten years after Poe's death. I suppose it's possible that Poe had come across slightly earlier work ('The Vestiges of Natural Creation' (1844) was anonymous and sold very badly) but I have never seen any evidence of this.

What makes you think that there is a connection?

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2001