Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849)

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Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most well-known figures in nineteenth century literature. His parents were actors who died shortly after his birth. He was adopted by the prosperous Allan family, but disinherited after the death of his mother. After leaving both the University of Virginia and U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Poe focused on his writing career. His (infamous) marriage to his first cousin, Virginia Clemm, when she was thirteen years old provided him with poetic inspiration and a dubious reputation. He variously worked as an editor, author, and critic, but was often released from jobs because of his alcoholism. On October 3, 1849, Poe was found semi-conscious on the streets of Baltimore and died days later. His death has been attributed to alcoholism, rabies, beatings, and cooping, among other theories, but ultimately is a mystery.

Nearly two hundred years after his death, Poe remains one of the most enigmatic and beloved American authors. His grisly sense of the macabre and astute psychological insights reinvents his fiction for each generation of readers. Unlike his more didactic nineteenth century contemporaries, Poe focused on style and form instead of crafting a clear moral message in his work. He is often credited with ushering in the modern horror and detective story. Poe’s commitment to the short story and belief that the best writing should be read in one sitting defined the genre for American readers, and his struggle to maintain his commitment to art and beauty in the face of mental illness and addiction is perhaps even better understood in our own time.