A Singular Conspiracy
Perowne, Barry. A Singular Conspiracy. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1974.
A fictional treatment of the unaccounted period in Edgar Allan Poe’s life from January to May of 1844.
Poe visits Paris under an assumed name, having used travel papers belonging to a stranger he has seen wounded in a bar-room brawl in New York. He has the intention of parlaying his West Point training into a position in the Lafayette Circle, a group of volunteer soldiers about to aid Poland against its' Russian occupier.
Poe leaves because he feels it might be the right thing to do in regards to Muddy and Virginia. This is a detective story on Poe. He lies, and feels guilty, but lies none the less.