Who was the real Edgar Allan Poe? One of America’s most iconic writers, his name and reputation are synonymous with the horror and the macabre. But he also invented the detective story and refined the sci-fi genre. And Poe’s popular image as a shadowy misanthrope toiling on the cultural margins bears little resemblance to the magazine editor and influential critic. In a new documentary, filmmaker Eric Stange explores the real story of the notorious author and the life of tragedy that inspired him.
Eric Stange's wrote and directed the documentary film Edgar Allan Poe: Buried Alive for the PBS series American Masters. On Monday, October 30, it's airing on public television stations across the country. In Utah, that's at 8 p.m. on KUED Channel 7. Visit the PBS web site to find when it's showing in your area.
The podcast for today's show features a special Halloween treat. Back in 2005, RadioWest partnered with Plan B Theatre Company for the first of an on-going series of radio dramas. That inaugural episode featured a series of tales from Edgar Allan Poe, including "The Tell Tale Heart," which you can hear in the podcast.