In 1841 Edgar Allan Poe, the architect of the modern short story, published ‘A Descent into the Maelström’ in Graham’s Magazine. Poe considered it to be one of his best tales. Much of what Poe is known for lies in evidence in this story of survival at sea. There is darkness and chaos, a looming abyss, and terror. The acquisition of real knowledge in this tale brings into perspective Poe’s view that, despite the chaotic mysteries of Nature, man’s own intuitive sense often breaks through these mysteries. It is a fisherman’s sense of awe, and acute observational skills that in the end enable him to make the best choice that ultimately proves to be his salvation.

The story draws its inspiration from the raging waters that surround the desolate Lofoten Island archipelago in the North Sea, off the Norwegian coast. Three fishermen, all brothers, are caught in a windstorm and strong tide, and are pulled into the swirling tumult that creates one of the largest whirlpools, or maelströms, in the world. Poe had learned about this deadly sea phenomena from several sources, which included an account in Fraser’s Magazine in 1834. The primary narrator of Poe’s tale is one of the brothers caught in the maelström, who tells his young companion how the others were sucked into the liquid abyss and perished, while he alone managed to survive.

Nawakum Press has published Poe’s short story in 32 pages, measuring 7” x 13”, in an edition of 60 signed copies. The book contains a facsimile fold-out map of the whirlpool, created by Vincenzo Coronelli in 1696. Published in two states, a numbered Slipcase edition, and a lettered Deluxe edition, housed in a clamshell box. Inset on the cover of the box is a sea cyanotype print, created in the ocean, on a UK shoreline. Four illustrations have been created for the edition by Gary Alphonso of Toronto, Canada, and plated for Joel Benson’s letterpress in Vallejo, California. Lisa Van Pelt of Cloverdale, California made the paste papers and bound the books and enclosures.