The name of Edgar Allan Poe immediately conjures up images of
murderers, madmen, premature burials, and mysterious women.
He is widely acknowledged as the inventor of the modern
detective story and a pioneer of the science fiction genre;
although he tried to make a living as America’s first great literary
critic and theoretician. Today, Poe’s reputation is based on his
tales of terror and horror as well as on his haunting poetry. Poe’s
own life has often been portrayed as being remarkably similar to
his mysterious and sometimes morbid stories and poems.
However, much of what has been written about him, has often
been misinterpreted.
Childhood
Edgar Poe was born in Boston on January 19, 1809 to David and
Elizabeth Poe. Elizabeth Poe died in 1811, when Edgar was 2
years old after having separated from her husband and living on
her with her three kids. After her death, Edgar was adopted by
Mr. and Mrs. John Allan. John Allan was a successful merchant
and Edgar grew up in comfortable surroundings and was sent to
good schools in England where learned Latin and French, as well
as math and history. He later continued his schooling in America.
By the age of thirteen, Poe had compiled enough poetry to publish
a book, but his headmaster advised John Allan against allowing
this.
In 1826, at the age of 17, Edgar Allan attended the University of
Virginia. Even though John Allan had plenty of money, he only
gave Edgar about a third of what he needed. Driven by poverty
and need, Edgar started to drink heavily and was soon immersed
in debt. A year later, he had to quit school. During these years, it
is said that he was so poor that he had to burn his furniture to
keep warm.
Stint in the army
Humiliated by his poverty, Poe returned to Richmond and visited
the home of his fiancée Elmira Royster, only to discover that she
had become engaged to another man in Poe’s absence. This
drove Poe out of home in a quixotic quest to become a great poet
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