Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was a famous American writer best known for his poetry and short stories. He was orphaned as a child and raised by John and Frances Allan in Richmond, Virginia. Poe struggled financially throughout his life and career. He published several books of poetry and short stories that were not very successful commercially but gained him recognition as a master of dark romanticism. Some of his most famous works include "The Raven," "The Tell-Tale Heart," and "The Fall of the House of Usher." Poe died under mysterious circumstances at age 40 in Baltimore.

1. Edgar Allan Poe

2. General Info01/19/1809 – 10/07/1849His parents died three years after he was bornHe was raised by John and Frances AllanRichmond, VA2 siblings, raised by other families

3. Early LifeJohn Allan was a tobacco businessmanWanted Poe to follow his footstepsThat wasn’t happening

4. What did Poe Want?Edgar Allan Poe wrote. A lot.He even wrote poetry on the back of the ledgers for the tobacco jobBy 13, he had enough poetry to publish a bookIt was not published

5. Young Adulthood1826: Poe went to the University of VirginiaJohn Allan did not provide enough money for thisPoe had to burn his furniture just to stay warmCame back homeHis fiancée was engaged to another manDecided to leave homePublished Tamerlane (age 18)Left to join the militaryJohn Allan started to help after Frances died

6. But…John remarried and didn’t even tell PoePoe decided to get expelled from West PointHe got expelledPublished another book

7. So…Poe moved to Baltimore, where his blood father had livedJohn died, leaving nothing to PoeBut he did leave things to an illegitimate child he had whom he had never even met

8. Love Finds a HomeVirginia took Poe’s letters to his lady friendsPoe soon fell for herPoe had a job back in Richmond (Southern Literary Messenger)He brought Virginia there, and they married

9. Oh Yeah…Virginia was his cousinHe was 27; she was 13

10. Later OnPoe moved to New York and later Philadelphia, and then back to New YorkVirginia died when she was 24, 5 years after contracting tuberculosis (which also killed Poe’s parents and foster mother)Poe began to court a few other women, including his initial fiancée, who was now a widow

11. The EndPoe was travelling from Richmond to PhiladelphiaHe stopped in Baltimore, and disappeared for 5 daysHe was found in a bar, taken to a hospital, and died a few days laterHis family had no idea until they read about it in the newspapers

12. LibelRufus Griswold, who was insulted in print by Poe, wrote an untrue obituary of PoeHe portrayed Poe as drunken, womanizing, and with no morals nor friendsThis drove up sales of Poe’s books

13. Noteworthy Works1835: “Hans Pfaal” (first modern science fiction story)1838: The Narrative of Arthur Gorden Pym (only novel)1841: “Murders in the Rue Morgue” (first modern detective story)1842 – 1846: “The Pit and the Pendulum” “The Masque of the Red Death” “The Tell-Tale Heart” “The Raven” “The Cask of Amontillado”After death: “The Bells” “Annabel Lee” “El Dorado”

14. Setting the Right MoodPoe’s stories are known for their moodDark, somberWhile these are not necessarily “scary” stories, they are horror stories because of the mood

15. Sourcehttp://www.poemuseum.org