Edgar Allan Poe | Brief Biography
Edgar Allan Poe | Brief Biography
Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, and literary critic. He is considered one of the most influential figures in American Romanticism, particularly known for his dark and macabre tales and poems, including “The Raven,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” and “Annabel Lee.” Poe’s works, characterized by their focus on death, the supernatural, and psychological terror, have had a lasting impact on popular culture and continue to be widely read and studied today.
Early Life and Education
Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to actors Elizabeth Arnold Poe and David Poe Jr. His parents died within three years of his birth, and Poe was taken in by John and Frances Allan, a wealthy merchant family in Richmond, Virginia. Although Poe was never legally adopted by the Allans, he took their surname and was raised in their household.
Poe attended the University of Virginia for one year but dropped out after running up significant gambling debts. He later enlisted in the U.S. Army and served for two years before being dishonorably discharged. Poe then attended the United States Military Academy at West Point for a brief period but was expelled for neglecting his duties.
Career
Poe’s writing career began in the 1820s, and he initially focused on poetry. His first book of poetry, “Tamerlane and Other Poems,” was published in 1827, and received little attention. In 1833, Poe moved to Baltimore, Maryland, where he lived with his aunt and cousins, and began writing short stories and reviews.
Poe’s first successful short story, “The Gold Bug,” was published in 1843 and won a prize for its use of cryptography. The success of this story marked a turning point in Poe’s career, and he went on to publish several more popular tales, including “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” (1841), “The Black Cat” (1843), and “The Purloined Letter” (1844).
Poe’s writing style was characterized by his use of dark, imaginative imagery and a fascination with the macabre. He was also a pioneer of the modern detective story and is credited with developing the genre of the psychological thriller.
Personal Life and Death
His personal life was marked by tragedy and hardship. He lost his wife, Virginia Eliza Clemm Poe, to tuberculosis in 1847, and struggled with depression and alcoholism for much of his life.
He died under mysterious circumstances on October 7, 1849, at the age of 40. The exact cause of his death remains unknown, and his funeral was attended by only a handful of people. Despite his troubled life and early death, Poe’s legacy as a writer and literary innovator continues to endure. 0 0 0.
Sources:
“Edgar Allan Poe.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2023.
“Edgar Allan Poe Biography.” Bio. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2023.
“Edgar Allan Poe.” The Poe Museum, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2023. ***
N.B. The article originally belongs to the book entitled ‘Biographies of Writers Around the World‘ by Menonim Menonimus.
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