by R. M. Ziegler

Created on: October 21, 2008

Edgar Allan Poe is best known for his poetry and dark fiction. He laid the foundation for future mystery and horror writers like H. P. Lovecraft and Stephen King. His writing also transformed the short story into an art form, and he is credited with creating the first detective story. The master of macabre once confessed he was afraid of the dark. He said, "I believe that demons take advantage of the night to mislead the unwary." Poe wrestled with his own demons throughout his life.

Edgar Poe was born in Boston on January 19, 1809 to Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins and David Poe. Both were traveling actors. By the age of three he was orphaned. John and Francis Allan of Richmond raised him. They never adopted Edgar, likely because they did not want their bloodline to be tainted by a lineage of theatrical performers. In spite of that, Edgar Poe added Allan to his name.

In 1815 the Allans moved to England. Young Poe attended various schools, including a boarding school in Chelsea. The headmaster was too cheap to purchase textbooks and conducted classes in the adjoining cemetery. Math lessons consisted of subtracting dates from gravestones. Sometimes the students got their exercise by digging graves for parishioners who had passed on. Poe proved to be an athlete and broke the long jump record of 21 feet 6 inches.

The Allans returned to the States in 1820. Poe attended the University of Virginia in 1826 to study languages but left a year later, two thousand dollars in debt from drinking and gambling. Poe's relationship with his foster father had always been contentious, but at that point they became estranged. Around this time Poe learned that his sweetheart, Sarah Royster, had married another.

Heartbroken and destitute, Poe decided to join the Army. In 1827 he enlisted in the United States Army as a private. He used the name Edgar A. Perry and lied about his age, saying he was twenty-two instead of eighteen. That year he published his first collection of poems, Tamerlane and Other Poems. Fifty copies were printed. Even though he was able to climb the ranks and attain Sergeant Major for Artillery, the highest rank that can be achieved by a non-commissioned officer, Poe did not want to finish his five-year enlistment. He approached his commanding officer and revealed his true age and identity. Lieutenant Howard released Poe on the proviso Poe would reconcile with his foster father. Allan and Poe had a brief reconciliation, and the younger was discharged from the Army in 1829.

Poe

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>