Edgar Allen Poe Biography
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe, born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 19, 1809, was a great American short-story writer, poet, critic, and editor. Poe's tales of horror and mystery brought alive the modern detective story, and the essence of his tales of horror is incomparable in American fiction. His poem, The Raven (1845), is one of the best-known poems in literature.****cite
Beginning with his short stories and poems, Edgar Allan Poe gained admiration of readers throughout the globe. Poe sparked the beginning of new genres, earning him the nickname "Father of the Detective Story"***cite. His life was quite a mystery in itself. Being the son of two actors, Poe really knew his parents. His father left the family early on, and his mother passed away when he was only three. Separated from his siblings, Poe went to live with John and Frances Allan, a successful tobacco merchant and his wife, in Richmond, Virginia. He and Frances seemed to form a bond, but he never quite meshed with John. Preferring poetry over profits, Poe reportedly wrote poems on the back of some of Allan's business papers. Money was also an issue between Poe and John Allan. When Poe went to the University of Virginia in 1826, he didn't receive enough funds from Allan to cover all his costs. Poe turned to gambling to cover the difference, but ended up in debt. He returned home only to face another personal setback—his neighbor and fiancée Elmira Royster had become engaged to someone else. Heartbroken and frustrated, Poe left the Allans.
At first, Poe seemed to be harboring twin aspirations. Poe published his first book, Tamerlane and Other Poems in 1827, and he had joined the army around this time. Poe wanted to go to West Point, a military academy, and won a spot there in 1830. Before going to West Point, he published a second collection Al Aaraaf, Tamberlane, and Minor Poems in 1829. Poe excelled at his studies at West Point, but he was kicked out after a year for his poor handling of
Edgar Allan Poe, born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 19, 1809, was a great American short-story writer, poet, critic, and editor. Poe's tales of horror and mystery brought alive the modern detective story, and the essence of his tales of horror is incomparable in American fiction. His poem, The Raven (1845), is one of the best-known poems in literature.****cite
Beginning with his short stories and poems, Edgar Allan Poe gained admiration of readers throughout the globe. Poe sparked the beginning of new genres, earning him the nickname "Father of the Detective Story"***cite. His life was quite a mystery in itself. Being the son of two actors, Poe really knew his parents. His father left the family early on, and his mother passed away when he was only three. Separated from his siblings, Poe went to live with John and Frances Allan, a successful tobacco merchant and his wife, in Richmond, Virginia. He and Frances seemed to form a bond, but he never quite meshed with John. Preferring poetry over profits, Poe reportedly wrote poems on the back of some of Allan's business papers. Money was also an issue between Poe and John Allan. When Poe went to the University of Virginia in 1826, he didn't receive enough funds from Allan to cover all his costs. Poe turned to gambling to cover the difference, but ended up in debt. He returned home only to face another personal setback—his neighbor and fiancée Elmira Royster had become engaged to someone else. Heartbroken and frustrated, Poe left the Allans.
At first, Poe seemed to be harboring twin aspirations. Poe published his first book, Tamerlane and Other Poems in 1827, and he had joined the army around this time. Poe wanted to go to West Point, a military academy, and won a spot there in 1830. Before going to West Point, he published a second collection Al Aaraaf, Tamberlane, and Minor Poems in 1829. Poe excelled at his studies at West Point, but he was kicked out after a year for his poor handling of