By Carol Lucas
Thus quoth the raven, “Nevermore.”
This past week I attended a dinner sponsored by a group that opposes book banning, an effort about which I am passionate. I happened to arrive a bit earlier than expected, so I took the opportunity to go next door to the bookstore, “Nevermore.”
I was simply passing the time until the group was to convene at 6, but when I emerged from that little venture that I like to think of as a “throwback in time,” I was so happy I had gone in.
Let me say right from the start, this is not to be construed as a paid advertisement for one book store over another. For a town of our size, we are fortunate to have access to quite a few resources for books. I have no doubt that you can find a specific publication in any of them, and if not, you can always order it there. No, it wasn’t the vast number or variety of books that caught my eye, but rather the environment, the decorative touches, and the ambiance that pulled me in and surrounded me like a warm blanket.
I could have momentarily closed my eyes, and upon opening them, believed I had been transported to a small book store in the UK, located in some side alley of SoHo, the paradise of culture dedicated to the many arts. That this store is located on the side street of Port Republic, right here in Beaufort, is perfect.
“Nevermore” is not particularly large, two rooms, and this is part of the charm. I took the opportunity to stroll casually through the place that holds so many visual rewards. From the beginning I took note of the cabinetry, old and well-polished. There is one that has imposed upon the glass doors, intricate branches. My mind immediately went to “The Raven,” and I envisioned that sleek, black-feathered prophet sitting there, delivering his message. I might add that there are several replicas of that same messenger sitting throughout.
If you are not familiar with Edgar Allen Poe, perhaps a little background will help. This is a man who had a profound impact upon not just American literature but on international literature as well. Many anthologies bill him as the “architect of horror fiction.” Much of his work has been translated into other languages, thus his becoming a major figure in world literature.
Poe’s life was one of sadness and struggle from the onset. Both parents, professional actors, passed away before he was 3 years of age. He became the foster child of a wealthy Virginia family, and was sent to an excellent boarding school and later to the University of Virginia.
Despite being brilliant, Poe was prone to gambling and alcoholism as well as depression which had a profound effect on his academic success. Much of this is said to have influenced the kind of literature he created.
Ultimately Poe moved in with his aunt and a cousin, Virginia, whom he married when she was 13 years old. Virginia was 24 when she contracted tuberculosis and died. The dark poem “The Raven” is purported to be a reflection of his state of mind over his wife’s death. Ultimately he sunk deeper into a depressive state and at 40 years of age was said to have died of “acute congestion of the brain.” Historians believe it was rabies.(Information obtained from Academy of American Poets.)
As for the work from which the name of the store is taken, access the full poem “The Raven” and refresh your memory with something I am sure you read in high school. But to tantalize you just a bit, here is the last stanza:
And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting,
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted – nevermore!
With this backdrop of Poe’s life, as well as the somber tone of “The Raven,” one might think that the store, “Nevermore,” is bleak and depressing. Absolutely not. I would use the word charming to describe this off-the-beaten-path retreat. Impressive statuary is randomly placed. All are subtle and appropriate to this setting. Even the bookends are carefully chosen to represent the era and the subject matter that so consumed Poe.
And should you care to visit this little gem, be sure to look at the lighting. Sconces abound throughout, and even the lighted panels in the ceiling are tastefully decorated. As you gaze at all of this, be sure to remember this: if that “lamp-light is, indeed, streaming,” you may want to check your floating shadow on the floor!
Finally, but every bit as important, please check out the display in the large window with the admonishment “Let them read.” Look at the copies of books that are banned and judge for yourself. Thank you to the owners of this bookstore. This former English teacher was more than impressed.
Carol Lucas is a retired high school teacher and a Lady’s Island resident. She is the author of the recently published “A Breath Away: One Woman’s Journey Through Widowhood.”
