Edgar Allen Poe apologizes in 167 year-old letter for going a little overboard with the mint juleps

March 4, 7:11 PMBook ExaminerMichelle Kerns

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             Mr. Poe, julep aficionado

In yet one more addition to the roll-call of authors throughout history who have been fond of an adult beverage or three after a day slaving away with the quill, a letter written by Edgar Allen Poe, recently acquired by the University of Virginia, contains Mr. Poe apologizing to his publishers for getting drunk and somewhat disorderly on a trip to New York.

Mr. Poe, in the tradition of best friends everywhere, blames his lapse into hijinks on his poet and lawyer buddy William Ross Wallace, whom Mr. Poe insists was responsible for the entire episode.

Dated July 18th, 1842, Mr. Poe asks his publishers, J. and Henry G. Langley:

Will you be so kind enough to put the best possible interpretation upon my behavior while in N-York? You must have conceived a queer idea of me -- but the simple truth is that Wallace would insist upon the juleps, and I knew not what I was either doing or saying.

Ah yes; an excuse as old as the Tree of Life -- that other guy/gal made me do it. I was just standing here and he poured it down my throat. I think we've all been there, yes? Particularly when juleps are involved.

Mr. Poe's reasons for caring so much about what the two Mr. Langleys thought becomes apparent in the rest of the letter -- Mr. Poe confesses to be "desperately pushed for money" and all but begs them to purchase an enclosed article from him. Unfortunately for Mr. Poe, they declined; however he successfully got it published elsewhere later that year.

The letter will be featured in "From Out That Shadow: the Life and Legacy of Edgar Allen Poe," an exhibit opening Saturday at the University of Virginia Library. Over 100 other items will be on display, including a manuscript of "The Raven," original artwork, Mr. Poe's writing desk, and portraits of both he and his mother.

The exhibit will run through August 1st, then will open at the University of Texas.

Incidentally, Mr. Poe wasn't the first (and certainly won't be the last) writer to have a soft spot for juleps. William Faulkner was quite an aficionado of mint juleps, as well as just about every other alcoholic drink available within reach. Mr. Faulkner was particularly an authority on mint juleps, however, and the Musso & Frank Grill in Los Angeles, one of his frequent watering holes, allowed him to mix his own at the bar following this recipe:

7 sprigs of mint
1/2 oz. simple syrup
3 oz. bourbon
 
Crush 6 mint sprigs into the bottom of a chilled double Old-Fashioned glass. Pour in simple syrup and bourbon. Fill with crushed ice. Garnish with the remaining mint sprig and serve with two short straws. Sometimes a splash of club soda is added. 
 

Enjoy one tonight in honor of Mr. Poe and Mr. Faulkner, men of talent and impeccable good taste.

Learn how to pair your favorite reading material with the perfect alcohol with the Book Examiner's ultimate guide to pairing alcohol and literature.

The literary James Bond was quite the mint julep fan himself. Take a look at a list of his favorite poisons as detailed in Ian Fleming's original Bond books, along with directions on to how to enjoy a license to swill yourself.