Edgar Allen Poe or Joseph Conrad?

Question

Literature and Literacy.
Which of the two was more intriguing.

Answer 1

Conrad
Poe, though a great short story writer, never wrote a novel. Nothing wrong with that except that the novel, as a literary platform, allows plot, character and backdrop development in a way the short story or novella can't reach.
Poe is good in plot, but his characters are barely more than gears and devices to push the narrative envelope.
As for Conrad, on the other way, check Nostromo, Heart of Darkness and you'll see what I mean.

Answer 2

If you're asking who's more intriguing, it would be Edgar Allan Poe because according to what I have read on his life, he wrote his stories better when he was drunk. Don't you think that's intriguing? I really wonder why some people drink a lot.

Joseph Conrad on the other hand seemed to have lived a clean life. The only drawback was his rheumatism which I think was better compared to a man dying without any penny because of excessive drinking. I for one do not know much about Joseph Conrad but what I read gave me an idea about his life which I think is okay. The only intriguing part is his refusal of a knighthood.

As for works, I love Edgar Allan Poe's. It's just a shame that these didn't count much ( I think) during his time. Such a pity. I still have to read more on Joseph Conrad's works but I think some were filmed. Example is Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now (1979), based on Heart of Darkness.

Answer 3

Poe is certainly the one that I would favor. The lyricism in his poems is beyond brilliant, and his short stories (except for his Dupont stories, gag) provoke the mind and terrify the spirit at the same time. In reading "The Black Cat", you can actually trace the mind of the murderer back to its origins of a normal mind, which is a terribly frightening thing. It was really quite intruiging.

Quite a feat for an alcohol and an opium addict.

And I do know Conrard, I just prefer Poe. I'm a bit too lazy for novels and novellas... Ahem. So generally I give preference to them. I also tend to dislike sea settings, feels too overused.

Answer 4

Hard to pick, Poe's overall Romaticism, or Conrads Epitomal hopeless romatic. While i would have a tendency to immeadiately say Poe for his overall body of works. In The Heart of Darkness is one of my favorite books. Comparing authors is alot like comparing sweet sweet donuts (sorry Homer moment) does it matter if its filled with purple stuff or red stuff as long as its a donut?

Answer 5

Poe

Answer 6

Without a doubt -- Conrad.

Not only is he still recognized as one of the greatest of authors, he did it all in his second language, English (he was Polish, of course).

Poe was a suspense writer, and a good one.

Conrad was a literary genius, being able to write in English better than anybody of his day, and concoct great stories also.

As somebody else pointed out, though, the comparison is probably unfair, as the two writers worked in different fields.

Answer 7

It's kinda hard to choose. Everyone is saying Poe because they probably don't know Conrad.

Answer 8

It's a hard one, but I have to pick Poe...love Conrad too though..

Answer 9

Joseph Conrad certainly is for me.I easily get overwhelmed by the existential bias of his works which he evinces with a strong descriptive attitude.Poe is equally good but Conrad is my favourite.

Answer 10

i prefer poe, because i like his gothic poems and stories. i find his works more beautiful than conrad's. conrad's tend to be tragic and intriguing, true, but it's a matter of preference, i guess.