Biography

Edgar Allan Poe was born in January 19, 1809, in Boston Massachusetts. As a short-story writer, poet, critic, and editor, his tales of mystery and horror initiated the modern detective story and atmosphere in his tales of horror is supreme in American fiction. His creative talents led to the beginning of the different literary genres, earning him the nickname of “Father of the Detective Story”. Poe never really knew his parents. His father left the family early on and his mother passed away when he was three. He was separated from his siblings; he went to live with John and Frances Allan, a successful tobacco merchant and his wife, in Richmond, Virginia. Poe’s first published book was “Tamerlane and Other Poems” in 1827, around this time he had joined the army. Poe won a spot in West Point in 1830. Before he went to West Point he published a second collection; “Al Aaraaf,” “Tamerlane,” and “Minor Poems”. He was kicked out after a year for his poor handling of duties. After leaving the academy, he focused his writing full time. Poe’s aggressive-reviewing style and sometimes combative personality strained his relationship with the publication. Poe became a literary sensation in 1845 with the publication of the poem “The Raven”. It is considered one of the best of his career. He was overcome by grief after the death of this beloved, Virginia, in 1847. After he continued his work, he suffered from poor health and struggled financially. Poe had a somewhat mysterious death. On October 3rd, he was found in Baltimore in great distress. He was taken to Washington College Hospital where he died in October 7th. His lasts words were “Lord, please help my poor soul.” His actual cause of dead was the subject of endless speculation. Some experts believe that alcoholism led to his demise while others offer up alternative theories. Rabies, epilepsy, carbon monoxide poisoning are just some of the conditions thought to have led to the great writer's death. Shortly after his passing, Poe's reputation was badly damaged by his literary adversary, Rufus Griswold. Griswold, who had been sharply criticized by Poe, took his revenge in his obituary of Poe, portraying the gifted yet troubled writer as a mentally deranged drunkard and womanizer. He