Edgar Allan Poe statue unveiled in Boston, despite his disdain for the city

It took a lot of brass to create a life-sized statue of Edgar Allan Poe and place it in a square near the centre of Boston last week. And we're not just talking about the material here.

You see, despite being born in Boston and being known as one of the greatest American poets and writers ever, Poe has been largely unheralded in his hometown until now. That might seem weird, since he wrote some of his most famous works there -- including "The Tell-Tale Heart". But it's probably because he openly disdained the city and its writers and editors.

"We were born there", he once wrote, "and perhaps it is just as well not to mention that we are heartily ashamed of that fact."

Nevertheless, Paul Lewis, the chair of the Edgar Allan Poe Foundation of Boston, spent several years fundraising and campaigning to honour Poe with a square and a statue. Carol spoke with him in April -- and Mr. Lewis explained how the statue uniquely reflects Mr. Poe's complicated history with the city of his birth.