Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe Birthplace Boston

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Edgar Allan Poe by Samuel S Osgood, 1845

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Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is widely regarded as a central figure of Romanticism in the United States and of American literature as a whole, and he was one of the country's earliest practitioners of the short story. Poe is generally considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre and is further credited with contributing to the emerging genre of science fiction. He was the first well-known American writer to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career.

Early Life

Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the second child of actors David and Elizabeth "Eliza" Poe. His father abandoned the family in 1810, and his mother died the following year. Thus orphaned, the child was taken in by John and Frances Allan, of Richmond, Virginia. They never formally adopted him, but Poe was with them well into young adulthood. Tension developed later as John Allan and Edgar repeatedly clashed over debts, including those incurred by gambling, and the cost of Poe's secondary education. He attended the University of Virginia but left after a year due to lack of money. Poe quarreled with Allan over the funds for his education and enlisted in the Army in 1827 under an assumed name.

Literary Career

It was in the year 1827 that Poe's first book, Tamerlane and Other Poems, was published, at his own expense. When Poe returned from the Army, he began to focus on his writing. He worked for several magazines and journals, which led to his role as a critic. Poe's harsh reviews earned him the reputation of being a fearless critic who not only attacked an author's work but also insulted the author and the northern literary establishment. Poe moved to Baltimore, Maryland, with his widowed aunt, Maria Clemm, and her daughter, Virginia, in 1835. He married Virginia, who was 13 years old, in 1836. Throughout his career, Poe published more than 300 works, including short stories, poems, and essays.

Major Works

Poe's best-known works include the poems "The Raven" and "Annabel Lee"; the short stories "The Tell-Tale Heart", "The Cask of Amontillado", "The Fall of the House of Usher", and "The Purloined Letter"; and the novel The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket. His works have been said to reflect his troubled life and frequent themes include death, lost love, insanity, and despair.

Death

Poe died on October 7, 1849, at the age of 40 in Baltimore, Maryland. The cause of his death is unknown and has been variously attributed to alcohol, brain congestion, cholera, drugs, heart disease, rabies, suicide, tuberculosis, and other agents.

Legacy

Poe's legacy is a complex one, as his works have been both celebrated and criticized. His influence on literature in the United States and around the world is considered profound, and his works have been translated into numerous languages. Poe is remembered as one of the first American writers to become a major figure in world literature. His contributions to the detective story genre have been honored by the Mystery Writers of America with the Edgar Award.