Edgar Allan Poe Popular Books

Edgar Allan Poe Biography & Facts

Edgar Allan Poe (né Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, author, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is widely regarded as a central figure of Romanticism and Gothic fiction in the United States, and of American literature. Poe was one of the country's earliest practitioners of the short story, and is considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre, as well as a significant contributor to the emerging genre of science fiction. He is the first well-known American writer to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career.Poe was born in Boston, the second child of actors David and Elizabeth "Eliza" Poe. His father abandoned the family in 1810, and when his mother died the following year, Poe was taken in by John and Frances Allan of Richmond, Virginia. They never formally adopted him, but he was with them well into young adulthood. He attended the University of Virginia but left after a year due to lack of money. He quarreled with John Allan over the funds for his education, and his gambling debts. In 1827, having enlisted in the United States Army under an assumed name, he published his first collection, Tamerlane and Other Poems, credited only to "a Bostonian". Poe and Allan reached a temporary rapprochement after the death of Allan's wife in 1829. Poe later failed as an officer cadet at West Point, declared a firm wish to be a poet and writer, 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, he married his 13-year-old cousin, Virginia Clemm, but 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 variously attributed to many causes including disease, alcoholism, substance abuse, and suicide.Poe and his works influenced literature around the world, as well as specialized fields such as cosmology and cryptography. He and his work appear throughout popular culture in literature, music, films, and television. A number of his homes are dedicated museums. The Mystery Writers of America present an annual Edgar Award for distinguished work in the mystery genre. Early life and education Edgar Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 19, 1809, the second child of American actor David Poe Jr. and English-born actress Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins Poe. He had an elder brother, Henry, and a younger sister, Rosalie. Their grandfather, David Poe, had emigrated from County Cavan, Ireland, around 1750.His father abandoned the family in 1810, and his mother died a year later from pulmonary tuberculosis. Poe was then taken into the home of John Allan, a successful merchant in Richmond, Virginia, who dealt in a variety of goods, including cloth, wheat, tombstones, tobacco, and slaves. The Allans served as a foster family and gave him the name "Edgar Allan Poe", although they never formally adopted him.The Allan family had Poe baptized into the Episcopal Church in 1812. John Allan alternately spoiled and aggressively disciplined his foster son. The family sailed to the United Kingdom in 1815, and Poe attended the grammar school for a short period in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland, where Allan was born, before rejoining the family in London in 1816. There he studied at a boarding school in Chelsea until summer 1817. He was subsequently entered at the Reverend John Bransby's Manor House School at Stoke Newington, then a suburb 4 miles (6 km) north of London.Poe moved with the Allans back to Richmond in 1820. In 1824, he served as the lieutenant of the Richmond youth honor guard as the city celebrated the visit of the Marquis de Lafayette. In March 1825, Allan's uncle and business benefactor William Galt died, who was said to be one of the wealthiest men in Richmond, leaving Allan several acres of real estate. The inheritance was estimated at $750,000 (equivalent to $19,000,000 in 2022). By summer 1825, Allan celebrated his expansive wealth by purchasing a two-story brick house called Moldavia.Poe may have become engaged to Sarah Elmira Royster before he registered at the University of Virginia in February 1826 to study ancient and modern languages. The university was in its infancy, established on the ideals of its founder, Thomas Jefferson. It had strict rules against gambling, horses, guns, tobacco, and alcohol, but these rules were mostly ignored. Jefferson enacted a system of student self-government, allowing students to choose their own studies, make their own arrangements for boarding, and report all wrongdoing to the faculty. The unique system was still in chaos, and there was a high dropout rate. During his time there, Poe lost touch with Royster and also became estranged from his foster father over gambling debts. He claimed that Allan had not given him sufficient money to register for classes, purchase texts, and procure and furnish a dormitory. Allan did send additional money and clothes, but Poe's debts increased. Poe gave up on the university after a year but did not feel welcome returning to Richmond, especially when he learned that his sweetheart Royster had married another man, Alexander Shelton. He traveled to Boston in April 1827, sustaining himself with odd jobs as a clerk and newspaper writer, and started using the pseudonym Henri Le Rennet during this period. Military career Poe was unable to support himself, so he enlisted in the United States Army as a private on May 27, 1827, using the name "Edgar A. Perry". He claimed that he was 22 years old even though he was 18. He first served at Fort Independence in Boston Harbor for five dollars a month. That year, he released his first book, a 40-page collection of poetry titled Tamerlane and Other Poems, attributed with the byline "by a Bostonian". Only 50 copies were printed, and the book received virtually no attention. Poe's regiment was posted to Fort Moultrie in Charleston, South Carolina, and traveled by ship on the brig Waltham on November 8, 1827. Poe was promoted to "artificer", an enlisted tradesman who prepared shells for artillery, and had his monthly pay doubled. He served for two years and attained the rank of Sergeant Major for Artillery, the highest rank that a non-commissioned officer could achieve; he then sought to end his five-year enlistment early. He revealed his real name and his circumstances to his commanding officer, Lieutenant Howard, who would allow Poe to be.... Discover the Edgar Allan Poe popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Edgar Allan Poe books.

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  • The Portable Edgar Allan Poe synopsis, comments

    The Portable Edgar Allan Poe

    Edgar Allan Poe & J. Gerald Kennedy

    The Portable Edgar Allan Poe compiles Poe's greatest writings: tales of fantasy, terror, death, revenge, murder, and mystery, including "The Pit and the Pendulum," "The Fall of the...

  • The Complete Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe synopsis, comments

    The Complete Poetry of Edgar Allan Poe

    Edgar Allan Poe, Jay Parini & April Bernard

    Explore the transcendent world of unity and ultimate beauty in Edgar Allan Poe’s verse in this complete poetry collection.Although best known for his short stories, Edgar Allan Poe...

  • The Raven synopsis, comments

    The Raven

    Edgar Allan Poe

    The celebrated and classic narrative poem by Edgar Allan Poe.Featuring an extended excerpt from Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen.

  • The Works of Edgar Allan Poe - Volume 2 synopsis, comments

    The Works of Edgar Allan Poe - Volume 2

    Edgar Allan Poe

    Monday, January 19, 2009 marked Edgar Allan Poe's 200th birthday. Though these tales need no introduction, the rationale for starting with volume two is threefold: many of the best...

  • Edgar Allan Poe synopsis, comments

    Edgar Allan Poe

    Jeffrey Meyers

    This biography of Edgar Allan Poe (18091849), a giant of American literature who invented both the horror and detective genres, is a portrait of extremes: a disinherited heir, a br...

  • Edgar Allan Poe. Complete Tales and Poems synopsis, comments

    Edgar Allan Poe. Complete Tales and Poems

    Edgar Allan Poe

    This book contains tales and poems by Edgar Allan Poe that became innovative literature discoveries at the time and extremely popular in its genre: The Fall of the House Usher, The...

  • Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe synopsis, comments

    Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe

    Edgar Allan Poe

    Enriched Classics offer readers accessible editions of great works of literature enhanced by helpful notes and commentary. Each book includes educational tools alongside the text, ...

  • Works of Edgar Allan Poe synopsis, comments

    Works of Edgar Allan Poe

    Edgar Allan Poe

    This collection was designed for optimal navigation on iPad and other electronic devices. It is indexed alphabetically and by category, making it easier to access individual bo...

  • The Complete Edgar Allan Poe synopsis, comments

    The Complete Edgar Allan Poe

    Edgar Allan Poe

    Collected here in one volume is the Complete selection of Edgar Allan Poe's works Including the Novels, Essays and Plays that are often left out of most other collections, as well...

  • The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe synopsis, comments

    The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe

    Edgar Allan Poe

    E. A. Poe was one of the greatest writers in American history. He was a creator of Gothic fiction story and also modern detective story. His works were an inspiration for such writ...

  • Delphi Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe synopsis, comments

    Delphi Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe

    Edgar Allan Poe

    The American short story writer, poet and critic, Edgar Allan Poe is famous for his writings in the genre of mystery and the macabre. Poe initiated the modern detective story and t...

  • The Works of Edgar Allan Poe - Volume 5 synopsis, comments

    The Works of Edgar Allan Poe - Volume 5

    Edgar Allan Poe

    This book includes Philosophy of Furniture, A Tale of Jerusalem, the Sphinx, Hop Frog, the Man of the Crowd, Never Bet the Devil Your Head, Thou Art the Man, Why the Little Frenchm...

  • Edgar Allan Poe synopsis, comments

    Edgar Allan Poe

    Arthur Hobson Quinn & Shawn James Rosenheim

    Renowned as the creator of the detective story and a master of horror, the author of "The Red Mask of Death," "The Black Cat," and "The Murders of the Rue Morgue," Edgar Allan Poe ...

  • Great Short Works of Edgar Allan Poe synopsis, comments

    Great Short Works of Edgar Allan Poe

    Edgar Allan Poe

    The classic poems and spinetingling stories of a Gothic American master collected in one volumeOf all the American masters, Edgar Allan Poe staked out perhaps the most unique and v...

  • Complete Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe synopsis, comments

    Complete Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe

    Edgar Allan Poe

    This single volume brings together all of Poe's stories and poems, and illuminates the diverse and multifaceted genius of one of the greatest and most influential figures in Amer...

  • Edgar Allan Poe synopsis, comments

    Edgar Allan Poe

    Kevin J Hayes

    The life of Edgar Allan Poe (1809–49) is the quintessential writer’s biographygreat works arising from a life of despair, poverty, alcoholism, and a mysterious solitary death. It m...

  • The Works of Edgar Allan Poe synopsis, comments

    The Works of Edgar Allan Poe

    Edgar Allan Poe

    “Edgar Allan Poe (born Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American author, poet, editor, and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. ...

  • Edgar Allan Poe synopsis, comments

    Edgar Allan Poe

    50Minutes

    Keen to learn but short on time? Find out everything you need to know about the life and work of Edgar Allan Poe in just 50 minutes with this straightforward and engaging guide!Edg...

  • The Works of Edgar Allan Poe - Volume 1 synopsis, comments

    The Works of Edgar Allan Poe - Volume 1

    Edgar Allan Poe

    This, the first of 5 volumes containing Poe's works, contains 8 of his short stories as well as reflections, critiques, and eulogies by others.

  • First Project Gutenberg Collection of Edgar Allan Poe synopsis, comments

    First Project Gutenberg Collection of Edgar Allan Poe

    Edgar Allan Poe

    This is a small collection of two tales by Poe, "The Masque of the Red Death" and "The Cask of Amontillado", and the famous poem, "The Raven".

  • 18 Best Stories by Edgar Allan Poe synopsis, comments

    18 Best Stories by Edgar Allan Poe

    Edgar Allan Poe, Vincent Price & Chandler Brossard

    A chilling compilation of some of Edgar Allen  Poe's bestloved stories, edited by Vincent Price and  Chandler Brossard and with an introduction by  Vi...

  • Complete Poems of Edgar Allan Poe synopsis, comments

    Complete Poems of Edgar Allan Poe

    Edgar Allan Poe & Neil Azevedo

    A complete collection of the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe.  Poe was born on January 19th in Boston, Massachusetts in 1809, and died in his adopted home of Baltimore, Maryland on ...

  • The Works of Edgar Allan Poe - Volume 3 synopsis, comments

    The Works of Edgar Allan Poe - Volume 3

    Edgar Allan Poe

    This, the third of 5 volumes containing Poe's works, contains 6 of his short stories as well as Poe's only complete novel, The Narrative of A. Gordon Pym. In it, Arthur Gordon Pym ...

  • The Complete Stories of Edgar Allan Poe synopsis, comments

    The Complete Stories of Edgar Allan Poe

    Edgar Allan Poe

    This ebook edition "The Complete Stories of Edgar Allan Poe" includes all known stories of Edgar Allan Poe with a functional table of contents: The Bargain Lost (1831), Loss of Bre...