“The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe (1809 – 1849) is one of the most famous poems ever written. It is internationally renowned for it’s musicality, stylised language and supernatural haunting ambience.

Edgar Allan Poe was an American Poet and writer and “The Raven” made him a household name almost immediately. He was well known for his tales and poems about mystery and the macabre and had a love of the Supernatural. Born in Boston he was a central figure in the Romanticism movement.

The poem “…tells of a talking raven’s mysterious visit to a distraught lover, tracing the man’s slow fall into madness. The lover, often identified as being a student, is lamenting the loss of his love, Lenore. Sitting on a bust of Pallas, the raven seems to further distress the protagonist with its constant repetition of the word “Nevermore”. The poem makes use of folk, mythological, religious, and classical references.” (Wikipedia)

Illustration by Abigail Larson

Illustration by Abigail Larson

It is a poem most people will have heard of. I’ve found some great readings of it and musical adaptations which I have shared below. My favourite is the first one above, by Sean Hart published on 19th March 2014 on Youtube. He made a rap version of the poem with an animated version of the story to accompany it. It’s brilliant. 🙂 Genius Actually.

Below are some excellent readings of the poem including narrations from Christopher Lee of Dracula and Hammer Horror fame and Actor Christopher Walken.

Below is a hand drawn, illustrated, and animated version of the poem, a collaboration project by RegPow Art and Review&Brew.

The Raven was also immortalised in an episode of the American Cartoon series “The Simpsons”.

Finally, The Alan Parsons Project released a song called “The Raven” in 1975 based on Poe’s famous poem. It was their first song and featured on their album “Tales of Mystery and Imagination”.

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Illustration by Abigail Larson

Illustration by Abigail Larson

The beautiful Artwork in this feature is by the Award Winning Abigail Larson a Fantasy and Gothic Illustrator and Artist. She describes herself as an “Illustrator of all things Strange and Macabre.” She has currently completed work on “The Dark Wood Tarot” for Llewellyn Worldwide which will be available in 2020 and resides in Turin, Italy. Check out her work if you like this genre. She’s an amazing artist.

http://www.abigaillarson.com/