A member 'evermore'
is honored by the Poe Studies Association
Boston College Professor Emeritus of English Paul Lewis鈥攁 staunch proponent of author Edgar Allan Poe鈥檚 ties to Boston who spearheaded a successful campaign to have the city reclaim Poe鈥攊s now a member of the Poe Studies Association 鈥渆vermore.鈥�
Lewis was awarded PSA honorary membership for his career-long contributions to Poe studies at the 2025 Conference of the American Literature Association. PSA president Philip Phillips presented the award with author Richard Kopley, who wrote the accompanying citation which will be published in an upcoming issue of the Edgar Allan Poe Review.
Paul Lewis, flanked by Poe Studies Association president Philip Phillips, at right, and author Richard Kopley, who wrote the accompanying citation.
鈥淪ince its founding in 1972, the Poe Studies Association has supported the exchange of ideas regarding the life and work of Edgar Allan Poe,鈥� said Lewis. 鈥淚 was honored to have served as both its vice president and president, and now to have received this award.鈥�
Poe鈥攁 legendary American short-story writer, poet, critic, and editor famous for his cultivation of mystery and the macabre鈥攊s a native son of Boston, born in the city in 1809. According to Lewis, his connections to the hub, and engagement with Boston writers and editors, is an important part of America鈥檚 literary history.
Among his efforts to 'reclaim' Edgar Allan Poe for Boston, Paul Lewis led the effort to commission for the city a statue of the author, which was dedicated in 2014. (Photo courtesy of the Edgar Allan Poe Foundation)
Lewis鈥檚 efforts 聽to cement the author鈥檚 ties to the Hub have included a Poe bicentennial celebration on campus and throughout the city; a Boston Public Library exhibition he curated with 热点爆料入口 student assistance to underscore Poe鈥檚 relationship with his birthplace; and the creation of a map of Boston which identifies places 鈥渨ith Poe-rich connections鈥� associated with his life and work here, where Lewis has lead popular walking tours. He also co-organized Poe Takes Boston: The Fifth International Edgar Allan Poe Conference in 2022.
Lewis鈥檚 award citation highlights his 鈥渞ange of fine scholarly Poe studies,鈥� and 鈥渋nsightful writing on Poe and complicated grief, Poe and ambition in Tamerlane, Poe and the Boston Lyceum lecture, and Poe and Longfellow. Paul has taken a leading role as a Poe expert not only in the scholarly world, but also in the public sphere.鈥�
Lewis supported the 2010 naming of the area at the corner of Boylston and Charles Streets in Boston 鈥淓dgar Allan Poe Square,鈥� and as chair of the Edgar Allan Poe Foundation of Boston, led the effort to commission and install a statue there: artist Stefanie Rocknak鈥檚 鈥淧oe Returning to Boston鈥� was dedicated in 2014.
An Americanist whose research interests include literary Boston; American humor since 1980; American lterature: 1790-1860; and gothic fiction, Lewis has authored several books: Cracking Up: American Humor in a Time of Conflict, Comic Effects: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Humor in Literature, and A Is for Asteroids, Z Is for Zombies: A Bedtime Book about the Coming Apocalypse. Forthcoming is Quothing "The Raven": The First Responses to America's Most Famous Poem. In addition to articles and book chapters on American literature, controversial humor, and literary Boston, Lewis has published opinion, humor, and feature pieces in prominent periodicals.
鈥淧aul鈥檚 accomplishment in investigating Poe and in advocating for him has been virtuosic. The Poe Studies Association is very grateful for his valuable contribution and very proud to award Paul Lewis Honorary Membership,鈥� the award citation concludes.
Photo illustration above of Poe and Boston by 热点爆料入口 Media Technology Services.