Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is regarded as a central figure of the American Romantic movement. He is best known for his tales of mystery and of the macabre, and he is credited with the invention of the detective story.
Early Life
Poe was born in 1809 in Boston, the son of actors. His father abandoned the family, and his mother died when he was young.
He was raised by John Allan, a wealthy merchant, in Richmond, Virginia. The relationship was difficult, and Allan did not support his literary ambitions.
He attended the University of Virginia and the United States Military Academy at West Point. He was expelled from the academy and was disowned by Allan.
The Poetry
Poe published his first collection of poems, Tamerlane and Other Poems, in 1827. The collection was not a success.
The Raven, published in 1845, made him famous. The poem is one of the most famous in American literature.
His other poems include Annabel Lee and The Bells. The poems are characterised by their musicality and by their melancholy.
The Short Stories
Poe wrote a large number of short stories in a variety of genres. The tales of the macabre include The Fall of the House of Usher and The Tell-Tale Heart.
The Murders in the Rue Morgue is regarded as the first detective story. The story introduced the character of C. Auguste Dupin, the model for Sherlock Holmes.
The Purloined Letter and The Mystery of Marie Rogêt are further detective stories. The stories established the conventions of the genre.
The Criticism and the Editing
Poe worked as an editor for several magazines. He was a sharp and often harsh critic.
His reviews and essays influenced the development of American literary criticism. He argued for the importance of unity of effect in the short story.
He wrote a study of the composition of The Raven. The essay is an account of his method and of his theory of poetry.
The Later Life and Death
Poe married his cousin Virginia Clemm in 1836. She died in 1847, and her death affected him deeply.
He struggled with poverty and with alcohol. He was found in a delirious state in Baltimore in 1849 and died shortly afterwards.
The cause of his death is unknown. The circumstances have been the subject of much speculation.
Legacy
Poe is regarded as one of the most important American writers of the nineteenth century. His work has influenced the development of the short story, of detective fiction, and of science fiction.
He has been admired by the French symbolists and by many later writers. Baudelaire translated his work into French.
He is remembered for his tales of horror and for his poetry. His work continues to be read and to be adapted.
The Poetry
Poe published his first collection of poems, Tamerlane and Other Poems, in 1827. The collection was not a success.
The Raven, published in 1845, made him famous. The poem is one of the most famous in American literature.
His other poems include Annabel Lee and The Bells. The poems are characterised by their musicality and by their melancholy.
The Short Stories
Poe wrote a large number of short stories in a variety of genres. The tales of the macabre include The Fall of the House of Usher and The Tell-Tale Heart.
The Murders in the Rue Morgue is regarded as the first detective story. The story introduced the character of C. Auguste Dupin, the model for Sherlock Holmes.
The Purloined Letter and The Mystery of Marie Rogêt are further detective stories. The stories established the conventions of the genre.
The Criticism and the Editing
Poe worked as an editor for several magazines. He was a sharp and often harsh critic.
His reviews and essays influenced the development of American literary criticism. He argued for the importance of unity of effect in the short story.
He wrote a study of the composition of The Raven. The essay is an account of his method and of his theory of poetry.
The Personal Life
Poe married his cousin Virginia Clemm in 1836. She died in 1847, and her death affected him deeply.
He struggled with poverty and with alcohol. He was found in a delirious state in Baltimore in 1849 and died shortly afterwards.
The cause of his death is unknown. The circumstances have been the subject of much speculation.
The Influence
Poe's work influenced the development of the short story, of detective fiction, and of science fiction. He has been admired by the French symbolists and by many later writers.
Baudelaire translated his work into French. Mallarmé and Valéry admired his poetry and his criticism.
He has been the subject of many biographies and of much controversy. The circumstances of his life and of his death have been debated.
The Legacy
Poe is regarded as one of the most important American writers of the nineteenth century. His work has had a profound influence on literature and on popular culture.
He has been honoured by the Mystery Writers of America, who named their awards the Edgar Awards. His work continues to be read and to be adapted.
He is remembered for his tales of horror and for his poetry. His name is associated with the gothic tradition and with the invention of the detective story.
See also
- Gothic fiction
- Detective fiction
References
- ↑ Ackroyd, Peter. Poe: A Life Cut Short. London: Chatto and Windus, 2008.
- ↑ Poe, Edgar Allan. The Complete Tales and Poems. New York: Modern Library, 1938.
- ↑ Quinn, Arthur Hobson. Edgar Allan Poe: A Critical Biography. New York: Appleton-Century, 1941.
- ↑ Silverman, Kenneth. Edgar A. Poe: Mournful and Never-Ending Remembrance. New York: HarperCollins, 1991.