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The Poe Shadow (Abridged) Audiobook, by Matthew Pearl Play Audiobook Sample

The Poe Shadow (Abridged) Audiobook

The Poe Shadow (Abridged) Audiobook, by Matthew Pearl Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Erik Singer Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 4.67 hours at 1.5x Speed 3.50 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: May 2006 Format: Abridged Audiobook ISBN: 9780743555791

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

7

Longest Chapter Length:

69:30 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

10:15 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

59:15 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

11

Other Audiobooks Written by Matthew Pearl: > View All...

Publisher Description

Includes Matthew Pearl's exclusive audio afterword on the truth behind Poe's death!

Baltimore, 1849: the body of Edgar Allan Poe has been buried in an unmarked grave. Everyone seems to accept the conclusion that Poe was a second-rate writer who met a disgraceful end—except for a young Baltimore lawyer named Quentin Clark, an ardent admirer who puts his own career and reputation at risk in a crusade to salvage Poe's.

As Quentin explores the puzzling circumstances and unanswered questions of Poe's demise, he realizes that he must find the one person who can help: the real-life model for Poe's brilliant fictional detective character, C. Augustine Dupin, the hero of ingenious tales of crime and detection. Soon Quentin finds himself enmeshed in sinister machinations involving international political agents and the lost secrets of Poe's final hours. If Quentin is to escape Poe's grisly fate, he must become a master investigator himself.

Drawing on original, groundbreaking research, the bestselling author of The Dante Club has once again crossed literary history with sublime craftsmanship and devious twists to create a beautifully detailed, ingeniously plotted tale of suspense.

Download and start listening now!

"Maybe I'm slightly biased since I'm a huge Poe fan to begin with. But I would have to say that the combination of Erik Singer's narration along with the story which Matthew Pearl devised surrounding some of the real-life events leading up to the death of Poe are the two biggest reasons I rated this book 5 stars. Pearl also provided a short explanation at the end which discussed some of the actual events, persons and places (also in the story) and again, left me thinking about some of the unanswered questions of what truly happened to Poe--to whom we can thank for the "detective fiction." I feel that Pearl did great justice in his novel and although it's been some time since I've read any of Poe's work, the writing style seemed to me to follow along that of Poe's. Also, the descriptions/narratives really seemed to bring the time-period to life, more than I have seen in other historical works of fiction. This is a book that I think at some point I would like to own a hard copy of and re-read parts of it again."

— Keri (5 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “Poe would have liked it.”

    — Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
  • “[An] enticing second novel.”

    — Bloomberg Press
  • “Singer provides Clark with a splendidly appropriate voice: young, intelligent, yet naïve and idealistic.”

    — Publishers Weekly (audio review)
  • “[A] masterful blend of historical and fictional figures, meticulous research, and nineteenth-century literary style.”

    — Booklist
  • “Pearl demonstrates a clear mastery of Poe mythology and uses his knowledge of 1850s Baltimore to excellent effect.”

    — Library Journal
  • “The Poe Shadow is an entertaining tale of ratiocination that would make Poe himself proud.”

    — BookPage
  • “Reads like a true story…enough mystery to make any Poe fan, Poe himself for that matter, proud.”

    — Canadian Press

Awards

  • A New York Times bestseller

The Poe Shadow Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 2.5 out of 52.5 out of 52.5 out of 52.5 out of 52.5 out of 5 (2.50)
5 Stars: 3
4 Stars: 2
3 Stars: 7
2 Stars: 7
1 Stars: 7
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " An intensely riveting, psychological, historical portrayal of a man who becomes so obsessed with Poe's life and death that he seemingly becomes the writer himself. Pearl does a fantastic job of mimicking Poe's theory of ratiocination throughout the text disguised as stream of consciousness. "

    — Yeti, 2/19/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Fascinating, enjoyable read. Fiction, but based on mysterious death of Edgar Allen Poe. "

    — Shauna, 2/18/2014
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I am a big Poe fan so I had looked forward to reading this and I so wanted to like it, but I could not believe how poorly written it was, it was very disappointing, a total waste of precious reading time. It seemed like the first novel of a very inexperienced writer instead of a supposedly accomplished one (I haven't read The Dante Club yet and I am hesitant to do so now). "

    — Robert, 2/17/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Complicated and too improbable. "

    — Rita, 2/17/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A great read for anyone who likes Poe "

    — Jennifer, 1/17/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I've always been a fan of Poe so when I ran across this book, I had to read it. I had already read "The Dante Club" by Matthew Pearl and loved it, so was excited to read this one, and was not disappointed! "

    — Jennifer, 1/6/2014
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Not as good as Pearl's Dante Club, but still pretty clever and engaging. Meandered a bit, but enjoyable nonetheless. "

    — Mel, 1/6/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Pearl is a fine writer but this story was pretty slow to start. I think I was almost 100 pages in before it really caught my attention. Still, I loved the speculations about Poe's demise. This was always a morbid fascination of mine. "

    — Adonna, 1/2/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I enjoyed this but it is supposed to be a thriller and it isn't all that thrilling. If you are a Poe fiend you might love this. I didn't know that there was so much mystery surrounding his death. "

    — Matt, 12/1/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " why did i finish this book??? "

    — Donnaelrick, 9/15/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Funny how an ending can make - or in this case - unmake a book. I loved Dante Club but was a little disappointed by the rambling end to this one. "

    — Kate, 6/25/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I abandoned this, due to boredom and exhaustion. You have to be a die-hard Poe fan to enjoy this one! "

    — Alison, 5/2/2013
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " this was a bit of a dissapointment after his awesome job with the dante club. I hope his next one lives up to the promise of the first one. "

    — Carmen, 3/28/2013
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Read it on a plane. it was not good. Oh well... "

    — Ryan, 11/29/2012
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I was largely disappointed with this book. It lacked a climax and seemed to drag on for all 508 pages. "

    — Wiki.writes, 8/12/2012
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Started off with great potential, but the story got bogged down at some point. "

    — Brent, 7/25/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " sometimes it just need a simple thinking "

    — Nura, 7/23/2012
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Go with Louis Bayard's The Pale Blue Eye. "

    — Elizabeth, 10/1/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " The Poe Shadow may just be the latest cure for insomnia! "

    — Jessica, 8/23/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I admire the fact that Pearl performed literary archeology and provided the reader with new insights into Poe's curious demise. However, the book could have been half as long and twice as impactful and I had a difficult time sympathizing with the voice of the narrator. "

    — Jeana, 5/15/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " It seemed to be well researched, although I know very little about Edgar Allen Poe myself. However, the characterization and details of Baltimore and Paris seemed to ring true. Mostly, though, it was difficult to get through, even boring in some places. It did pick up towards the end. "

    — Lavonne, 3/24/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " As mysterious and OCD as a Poe story. "

    — Sschnitker, 3/13/2011
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " The plot moved like molasses in January in Alaska. The characters are unbelievable, unlikable, and pretentious. The narrator had lost all credibility about halfway through. Half of my book club didn't finish the book. Only one of us liked it. The ending is trite and unbelievable. <br/> "

    — Lacie, 3/7/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " It was alright. I prefer Matthew Pearl's other book way more! Loved the &quot;Dante's Club.&quot; "

    — Praggya, 2/2/2011
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " The beginning of this book was not sufficiently interesting to warrant finishing the book. Except for The Dante Club, I've found this to be the case with Pearl's other books. "

    — Christy, 1/23/2011
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Basta yavas ilerliyor ve hiçbir sey anlatmiyor gibi görünse de sonlara dogru biraz heyecan vermeye basladi. Sonu bekledigim kadar aydinlatici olmasa da fena bir kitap degil. "

    — Gozde, 1/21/2011

About Matthew Pearl

Matthew Pearl is an author whose novels have been international and New York Times bestsellers translated into more than thirty languages. The Taking of Jemima Boone is his nonfiction debut. His nonfiction articles have appeared in the New York Times, the Boston GlobeThe Atavist Magazine, and Slate. He has been chosen best author for Boston Magazine's Best of Boston and received the Massachusetts Book Award for Fiction. 

About Erik Singer

Erik Singer’s theatrical credits include the title role in The Hostage (off Broadway), A Life in the Theatre, Greetings!, and national tours of Othello and The Taming of the Shrew. He has also appeared on All My Children and As the World Turns, and was the voice of Vincent van Gogh in the A&E Biography about Van Gogh and Gauguin. His audiobook narration has twice won him the AudioFile Earphones Award.