Nevermore

Now I ask you, in all verity, can one conjure a personage more appropriate than I, Edgar A. Poe, *courtly bow* to judge the merits of the volume I presently hold in my hand: a literary work entitled "Nevermore"?? Nay!

Literary criticism was my "bread and butter" at one time, and I take pride in declaring that I employ no half-measures in any task I venture to undertake. Thusly, my reputation has grown far and wide as that of a "take no prisoners" critic.... *cough* Yes, I am painfully aware of my vindictive rant... er, I mean justified assessment in my preceeding column of a most ludicrous and unwarrented negative verbage that had been primarily directed at this esteemed publication to which I now lend my unparalleled genius! I shall, therefore, proceed to set forth an example of qualified and responsible critique.

First and foremost, I wish to impart that I do heartily recommend that the reader partake of this surprisingly entertaining novel. The author, Harold Schechter, has heretofore firmly imprinted his mark in the genre of "true crime" His reknown flair for the vivid conveyance of maniacal human atrocity imbues this challenging work of fiction with an atmosphere of grim "reality". But the reader is mercifully and delightedly distracted from advent of morbid depression by the amiable spice of humor.

In essence, “Nevermore” cleverly presents an "alternative reality" tale which brings to life a hypothetical meeting between myself and *shudder* that legendary master of the art of exaggeration of one's own magnitude: Davy Crockett. Such an unlikely scenario speaks for itself.....

I was initially resentful of the liberties taken by Mr. Schechter in fashioning the backdrop setting that depicts (some may assume) “facts” of my life: My personal interactions with various members of my actual family and associates, some on the mark, and others grossly inaccurate… flagrantly woven into an intricate web of fictional family and events. I queried myself as to whether the reader might perhaps tumble into a centrifuge of misconception about me, further reinforcing the deluge of myths that persist to circulate. It occurred that this author, not unlike the multitude of tiresome and tenacious “Poe scholars”, was prodding at an as yet unhealed wound of mine. The subject to which I refer is the vastly annoying and ongoing controversy regarding the degree to which the circumstances and relationships experienced by me during the course of childhood and onward have or have not exerted an influence on the nature of style and content of my fine literary works!

I re-iterate (while dispensing with the customary smugness of the “know-it-all”) that the revelations so doggedly sought and speculated upon will forever remain the sole property of my humble self-- For instance, the origin of my choice of the appellation “Lenore” is my secret. ~GRIN… Ahhh, at this point I nudge myself, laughing aloud… and applauding Mr. Schechter’s marvelous work of fiction for precisely what it is: A “tongue-in-cheek”, inoffensive needling, superbly executed within the parameters of fun. “Nevermore” is a riveting unraveling of mystery and suspense throughout, and I confess that I strayed not far until I had turned the final page!