What I’m about to say might sound a bit pedantic: I’ve read three biographies of E.A. Poe and an 800 page dissertation of the six years Poe lived in Philly (his most productive years in terms of literary reviews as a “magazinist” and short stories; he lived here between 1838 and 1844). His alcohol consumption was more controlled in this my home city than previously or subsequently.
When I asked my NPS Park Ranger colleagues at The Poe National Historic Site, what was the alcoholic drink he favored, their response was port wine (I posed the question because I couldn’t find a reference in any of the biographical materials I read; yes, there are many more biographies written about Poe...). The common thread in all I read is that alcohol was quickly metabolized by him, getting drunk rapidly.
There’s also been a lot of mis-information about him, attributed after his death by his literary executor Rufus Griswold. Much of what Griswold wrote about Poe, such as drug addiction, has been discredited.
I know that you do a lot of research for your essays. So, now I wonder what source you used for Poe’s use of absinthe?
No worries, you seldom come across critical, often curious. I am a Poe fan (as you know) and it's always irritated me that so much of the info floating around about him was written by a man with a bone to pick. If he was a port wine drinker, that's another vote in my books. I love a good aged port wine. Not that I can imbibe much, b/c I'll fall asleep.
I found the reference to Poe as a notable Absinthe fan on the Wikipedia page with Absinthe history, as well as two different Absinthe sites. I suspect the Absinthe sites likely took their reference from Wikipedia. The reference in Wikipedia is from "The Appeal of 'The Green Fairy'", published in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
I didn't chase it down farther than that, b/c I try to be thorough without falling too deep into a rabbit hole. Often I fail and spend hours in those rabbit holes. As you well know! lol.
Yes, I know all about those rabbit holes. There’s an entire library about Poe (in addition to bound volumes of all his literary works) on a upper floor of the Poe Historic Site only available to the NPS staff and volunteers.
I borrowed the three biographies when I first started “working” there to be able to field questions about his life from visitors. And needless to say when I saw the dissertation (written by someone getting his doctorate from UPenn), I signed out the volume; little did I know, was a second volume for the last three years of his life (silly me thought it was just two copies of the same dissertation as we have multiple copies of the same books!). Yep, a rabbit hole.
Since port wine was a typical beverage in local pubs here in Philly in the 1700’s and early 1800’s, the NPS Rangers made an educated guess about him favoring it. We sometimes forget that water wasn’t always potable in prior centuries!!
Thanks for the information. I only heard of absinthe in novels, so I just assumed it was a cordial. It apparently had something other than alcohol in it. I had to research laudanum for a story I was writing, and found it was 10% opium with the alcohol. Nice to know stuff.
Right? Crazy trivia is gold for writers. It's the seasoning that makes the dish taste better. The original Coca Cola is another one looking up. Wow, they were crazy back then.
Mark on the wall for you. So far, you're the only one that commented on the addiction part of self help. Sometimes I swear the conversations in comments are where I get my buzz. lol
Sam, you always bring such kind comments. Funny thing -- I have an article in my drafts that talks about addiction. Sometimes I get an idea and it needs time to rise, like bread. Or maybe mature, like a child needs to grow. I will have a look at it again, see if I'm ready to finish that one. I think you'll enjoy it.
Born and raised in Europe. Pernod was the drink du jour at home. Keep Lucid Absinthe in the house now as a substitute, though I hear Pernod or Pernod Absinthe is now legal. So ... off I trek to the ol' watering hole.
Yes, Absinthe is legal again. I think the newer stuff lacks the hallucinogen, though I could be wrong. I hear Pernod is sweeter and less herby than Absinthe.
One last thing if you don't mind. I did not know Absinthe was not legal. I had no trouble buying it some time ago. I did know Pernod was not legal, which it now if as of 2007 though perhaps not as potent. Pernod, to me, if memory serves, is more flavorful.
I don't mind at all! Absinthe was banned in America, France and most of Europe in 1912. It was made legal again in 2007 (at least in America) but with regulations for maximum thujone levels
I enjoyed this piece, per usual.
What I’m about to say might sound a bit pedantic: I’ve read three biographies of E.A. Poe and an 800 page dissertation of the six years Poe lived in Philly (his most productive years in terms of literary reviews as a “magazinist” and short stories; he lived here between 1838 and 1844). His alcohol consumption was more controlled in this my home city than previously or subsequently.
When I asked my NPS Park Ranger colleagues at The Poe National Historic Site, what was the alcoholic drink he favored, their response was port wine (I posed the question because I couldn’t find a reference in any of the biographical materials I read; yes, there are many more biographies written about Poe...). The common thread in all I read is that alcohol was quickly metabolized by him, getting drunk rapidly.
There’s also been a lot of mis-information about him, attributed after his death by his literary executor Rufus Griswold. Much of what Griswold wrote about Poe, such as drug addiction, has been discredited.
I know that you do a lot of research for your essays. So, now I wonder what source you used for Poe’s use of absinthe?
I’m curious, not being critical!!
No worries, you seldom come across critical, often curious. I am a Poe fan (as you know) and it's always irritated me that so much of the info floating around about him was written by a man with a bone to pick. If he was a port wine drinker, that's another vote in my books. I love a good aged port wine. Not that I can imbibe much, b/c I'll fall asleep.
I found the reference to Poe as a notable Absinthe fan on the Wikipedia page with Absinthe history, as well as two different Absinthe sites. I suspect the Absinthe sites likely took their reference from Wikipedia. The reference in Wikipedia is from "The Appeal of 'The Green Fairy'", published in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
I didn't chase it down farther than that, b/c I try to be thorough without falling too deep into a rabbit hole. Often I fail and spend hours in those rabbit holes. As you well know! lol.
Yes, I know all about those rabbit holes. There’s an entire library about Poe (in addition to bound volumes of all his literary works) on a upper floor of the Poe Historic Site only available to the NPS staff and volunteers.
I borrowed the three biographies when I first started “working” there to be able to field questions about his life from visitors. And needless to say when I saw the dissertation (written by someone getting his doctorate from UPenn), I signed out the volume; little did I know, was a second volume for the last three years of his life (silly me thought it was just two copies of the same dissertation as we have multiple copies of the same books!). Yep, a rabbit hole.
Since port wine was a typical beverage in local pubs here in Philly in the 1700’s and early 1800’s, the NPS Rangers made an educated guess about him favoring it. We sometimes forget that water wasn’t always potable in prior centuries!!
Thanks for the information. I only heard of absinthe in novels, so I just assumed it was a cordial. It apparently had something other than alcohol in it. I had to research laudanum for a story I was writing, and found it was 10% opium with the alcohol. Nice to know stuff.
Right? Crazy trivia is gold for writers. It's the seasoning that makes the dish taste better. The original Coca Cola is another one looking up. Wow, they were crazy back then.
Fascinating. I knew nothing about absinth except from what I saw in the film Moulon Rouge. And you're SO right re self help! Thanks, Linda. jenine
Mark on the wall for you. So far, you're the only one that commented on the addiction part of self help. Sometimes I swear the conversations in comments are where I get my buzz. lol
I'm a recovering self helpoholic. So I resonated. :)
From Baghdad, IRAQ
Our Dear Linda we love your writings and wait every Friday to enjoy reading it
Drinking is a worldwide medical problem and still a problem since the
mankind first tasted alcohol. Medically speaking it's a form of addiction
like addiction to tobacco(Cigarettes).
It is a central nervous system(Brain) depressant drug, the sad thing about I have seen so many very clever people loosing their lives because of it.
I hope one day you can write and educate people about the danger of drinking alcohol
particularly at the young age group.
Your friend from Baghdad, IRAQ.
Sam John
Sam, you always bring such kind comments. Funny thing -- I have an article in my drafts that talks about addiction. Sometimes I get an idea and it needs time to rise, like bread. Or maybe mature, like a child needs to grow. I will have a look at it again, see if I'm ready to finish that one. I think you'll enjoy it.
Born and raised in Europe. Pernod was the drink du jour at home. Keep Lucid Absinthe in the house now as a substitute, though I hear Pernod or Pernod Absinthe is now legal. So ... off I trek to the ol' watering hole.
Yes, Absinthe is legal again. I think the newer stuff lacks the hallucinogen, though I could be wrong. I hear Pernod is sweeter and less herby than Absinthe.
One last thing if you don't mind. I did not know Absinthe was not legal. I had no trouble buying it some time ago. I did know Pernod was not legal, which it now if as of 2007 though perhaps not as potent. Pernod, to me, if memory serves, is more flavorful.
I don't mind at all! Absinthe was banned in America, France and most of Europe in 1912. It was made legal again in 2007 (at least in America) but with regulations for maximum thujone levels
Happy late Easter Linda 👏👏👏
Good stuff, Linda. Always👍😍
Another great article! Fascinating.
Thanks