EDGAR ALLAN POE'S BIOGRAPHY

Poor and blue

Legacy

We mostly remember him for his dark, macabre tales of horror. He is said to have invented the detective fiction genre. He died after suffering from deppression as he never overcame his wife's death. Alcohol and substances were the ones to blame, he died penniless and never getting the recognition he deserved. Luckily, we can still get goosebumps whenever we have the opportunity to read him.

MANY AFFAIRS, ONLY ONE LOVE

Love

However strange it may seem, Poe had many affairs and relationships with women, before and after marrying Virginia Eliza Clemm, first cousin, when he was 23 and she was only 13. She witnessed some unfaithful behaviour on his side and some claim that this was what led her to tuberculosis, and later, death. She was the truly love of Poe's life.

HIS PEN WAS HIS WEAPON

Work

He achieved some personal stability during his time in the army, when he could devote himself to writing his first book: Tamerland and other poems. However, despite his talent, he had little recognition. In 1838 he published the Narrative of Arthur Gordon of Nantucket. After that he founded a newspaper: Stars and Stripes. He wrote not only poems, like the Raven or Alone, but also tales (The house of the fall of Usher), literary criticism, essays, etc. Some of his work was published before his death, some others, after it.

his family: the army

Youth

Attended University of Virginia but just one term, when he ran out of money. He enlisted the army and had a succesful carreer until he decided to leave West Point and was dismissed in disgrace for neglect of duty. During his years in the army he wrote many of his works.

Early life

His life is early marked by tragedy

Born in 1809 in Boston. Loses his mother after being abandoned by his father. He was put up by John and Frances Allan of Richmond, by they never adopted him formally.

EDGAR ALLAN POE