The Raven illustrated by Gustave Doré

"The Raven" is a narrative poem by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. First published in January 1845, the poem is often noted for its musicality, stylized language, and supernatural atmosphere. It tells of a talking raven's mysterious visit to a distraught lover, tracing the man's slow descent into madness. The poem makes use of folk, mythological, religious, and classical references. "The Raven" was first attributed to Poe in print in the New York Evening Mirror on January 29, 1845.