Edgar Allan Poe
Master of the macabre and pioneer of detective fiction
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American author, poet, editor, and literary critic. He is most famous for his poetry and short stories, especially those dealing with mystery and horror. He is considered a key figure in American Romanticism and Gothic fiction, as well as an important early voice in American literature.
Poe was one of the first successful short story writers in the United States and is often credited as a pioneer of detective fiction. He also helped lay the groundwork for science fiction. He was the first well-known American writer to try to support himself solely through his writing, which made his life and career financially difficult.
Born in Boston, Poe was the second child of actors David and Eliza Poe. His father left the family in 1810, and after his mother died the next year, Poe was taken in by John and Frances Allan of Richmond, Virginia. Though never formally adopted, he lived with them into his early adulthood.
Poe attended the University of Virginia but left after a year due to lack of money. He often argued with John Allan over funds for his education and to cover his gambling debts. In 1827, he enlisted in the U.S. Army under the name Edgar A. Perry and published his first collection, *Tamerlane and Other Poems*, credited only to "a Bostonian." After Frances Allan died in 1829, Poe and John Allan briefly reconciled. But Poe later failed as a cadet at West Point, declared his intention to become a writer (mostly of poems), and cut ties with Allan.
Shifting his focus to prose, Poe spent years working for literary journals and periodicals, developing a distinctive style of criticism. His work took him to Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City. In 1836, at age 27, he married his 13-year-old cousin, Virginia Clemm. She died of tuberculosis in 1847.
In January 1845, his poem "The Raven" was published and became an instant success. For years, he planned to launch his own journal, first called *The Penn* and later *The Stylus*, but it never began publishing. Poe died in Baltimore in 1849 at age 40 under mysterious circumstances. The cause of his death remains unknown, with theories ranging from disease and alcoholism to substance abuse and suicide.
Poe’s work has influenced literature worldwide and even fields like cosmology and cryptography. Since his death, he and his writings have appeared widely in popular culture, including art, photography, music, film, and television. Several of his former homes are now museums. The Mystery Writers of America gives an annual Edgar Award for outstanding work in the mystery genre.
- born
- January 19, 1809, Boston, Massachusetts
- died
- October 7, 1849, Baltimore, Maryland
- field
- Writer, poet, editor, literary critic
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Poetry and short stories of mystery and the macabre; pioneer of detective fiction and science fiction
Lore & Background
Poe was born in Boston, the second child of actors David and Eliza Poe. His father abandoned the family in 1810, and when Eliza died the following year, Poe was taken in by John and Frances Allan of Richmond, Virginia. They never formally adopted him, but he lived with them well into young adulthood. Poe attended the University of Virginia, but left after only a year due to a lack of money. He frequently quarreled with John Allan over the funds needed to continue his education as well as his gambling debts. In 1827, having enlisted in the United States Army under the assumed name of Edgar A. Perry, he published his first collection, Tamerlane and Other Poems, which was credited only to 'a Bostonian'. Poe and Allan reached a temporary rapprochement after the death of Allan's wife, Frances, in 1829. However, Poe later failed as an officer cadet at West Point, declared his intention to become a writer, primarily of poems, and parted ways with Allan. Poe switched his focus to prose and spent the next several years working for literary journals and periodicals, becoming known for his own style of literary criticism. His work forced him to move between several cities, including Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City. In 1836, when he was 27, he married his 13-year-old cousin, Virginia Clemm. She died of tuberculosis in 1847. In January 1845, he published his poem 'The Raven' to instant success. He planned for years to produce his own journal, The Penn, later renamed The Stylus – but before it began publishing, Poe died in Baltimore in 1849, aged 40, under mysterious circumstances. The cause of his death remains unknown and has been attributed to many causes, including disease, alcoholism, substance abuse, and suicide.
Reader's Guide
Poe was one of the country's first successful practitioners of the short story, and is generally considered to be one of the pioneers of the detective fiction genre. In addition, he is credited with contributing significantly to the emergence of science fiction. He is the first well-known American writer to earn a living exclusively through writing, which resulted in a financially difficult life and career. Poe's works influenced the development of literature throughout the world and even impacted such specialized fields as cosmology and cryptography. Since his death, he and his writings have appeared throughout popular culture in such fields as art, photography, literary allusions, music, motion pictures, and television. Several of his homes are dedicated museums. In addition, The Mystery Writers of America presents an annual Edgar Award for distinguished work in the mystery genre.
Did You Know?
- Poe attended the University of Virginia for only a year, not a single semester.
- He published his first collection, Tamerlane and Other Poems, under the name 'a Bostonian'.
- Poe married his 13-year-old cousin Virginia Clemm in 1836.
- The cause of his death remains unknown.
Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)
"Born in 1809 in Massachusetts, Poe was the son of American theatre actress Elizabeth Poe (mother) and David Poe, Jr. (father)." — Edgar Allan Poe "A dark unfathom'd tide Of interminable pride — A mystery, and a dream, Should my early life seem." — Edgar Allan Poe "Imitation", Tamerlane and Other Poems (1884)." — Edgar Allan Poe "O, human love! thou spirit given,On Earth, of all we hope in Heaven!" — Edgar Allan Poe
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