Edgar Allan Poe-Behind the Scenes
Many people have heard of Poe and his infamous work, "The Raven" or "Tell Tale Heart" but few know about the man behind the scenes. Edgar Allan Poe's dark writing is often studied in college English courses to demonstrate the "writers voice". It has been rumored that Poe was a womanizer, drunkard and addicted to opium, rumors most likely by his arch rival Rufus Griswold whose claim to fame was lost in Poe's shadow.
See more about Poe, watch our featured video, see a list of his most famous works and check out Edgar Allan Poe-Best Buys below.
See more about Poe, watch our featured video, see a list of his most famous works and check out Edgar Allan Poe-Best Buys below.
Edgar Allan Poe-Behind the Scenes
Edgar Allan Poe most recognized for the 'Raven' and 'Tell Tale Heart'. Poe’s writings can stir feeling in the reader that they are not sure of and yet touch the core of our secret feelings and fears. His writings seemed inspired by some type of terror that could have occurred in his life but in fact, it is more likely that they were inspired by loss, loneliness and poverty. Poe did not achieve true fame until after his death and even then it was because of an adversary who set out to destroy his few followers. ´Tell tale heart", written by Poe in 1850, clearly shows the writer's voice that Poe portrays in most of his writings; One of mystery, intrigue and danger, sometimes even romanticism, while leaving the reader anticipating more, gasping over the unexpected, terrifying and surprising writings.
´”It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night. Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! Yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture --a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees -- very gradually --I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever." (Edgar Allen Poe)
Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston on January 19, 1908. His parents were traveling actors. Poe had an older brother named William Henry Leonard Poe and a younger sister named Rosalie Poe. When he was three years old both of his parents died. After their death he went to Richmond to live with John Allan and his wife, Frances Valentine Allan. Mr. Poe wanted to be a writer. His favorite author was the British poet Lord Byron. Mr. Allan’s desire was that Poe became an established Virginia gentleman and business man in the tobacco industry. Poe had composed enough poetry by the time he was thirteen to publish his own book. He attended college at the University of Virginia and ran out of money to fund his education, taking up gambling to get the money to support even a minimal existence and continue going to school. Times were so hard that he burned his furniture to keep warm during the end of his first term. His heart was broken by his fiancée, Elmira Royster who married another man while he was away at school. His ´mother Frances Allen died of tuberculosis after requesting to see him but by the time he arrived she was already buried. Mr. Allen and Poe reunited to some extent and Mr. Allen helped Poe get into West Point Military Academy and Poe managed to get himself expelled. He published one book before and one book after his experience at West Point. Poe spent much of his time alone with his thoughts, sad memories and without money. His brother and sister both died from tuberculosis. When his stepfather, Mr. Allen died he did not leave Poe anything. Poe ended up becoming a renowned magazine writer and vicious critic who notoriously critiqued the writer but even the establishments that promoted the writers. When Poe was twenty seven he married a thirteen year old girl named Virginia and it is said they were quite happy together. Still plagued with financial difficulties he continued to write for different magazines. Later his beloved wife died of tuberculosis as well. This was the only time in his life that he was unable to write. In January 1845 he wrote ´The Raven". He met Nancy Richmond, a married woman who would not leave her husband but she inspired Poe to write some of his best poetry. The relationship was short-lived and Poe proposed to Sarah Helen also a poetry writer but the relationship was brief, only lasting only a month. Poe reunited with his first love, Elmira Royster Shelton who was a widow and they were engaged. Poe died two years after his wife’s death in a bar room of a public house used for voting in elections. The last days of his life were spent surrounded by strangers and far from home. No one really knows what he died from but he was forty years old at the time of his death and died October 7, 1849. After his death his book sales increased dramatically after an attack by Rufus Griswold who wrote lies about Poe that attracted public attention to Poe’s work and Edgar Allen Poe became famous after his death primarily due to the fame acquired by the vicious attacks.
´”It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night. Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! Yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture --a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees -- very gradually --I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever." (Edgar Allen Poe)
Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston on January 19, 1908. His parents were traveling actors. Poe had an older brother named William Henry Leonard Poe and a younger sister named Rosalie Poe. When he was three years old both of his parents died. After their death he went to Richmond to live with John Allan and his wife, Frances Valentine Allan. Mr. Poe wanted to be a writer. His favorite author was the British poet Lord Byron. Mr. Allan’s desire was that Poe became an established Virginia gentleman and business man in the tobacco industry. Poe had composed enough poetry by the time he was thirteen to publish his own book. He attended college at the University of Virginia and ran out of money to fund his education, taking up gambling to get the money to support even a minimal existence and continue going to school. Times were so hard that he burned his furniture to keep warm during the end of his first term. His heart was broken by his fiancée, Elmira Royster who married another man while he was away at school. His ´mother Frances Allen died of tuberculosis after requesting to see him but by the time he arrived she was already buried. Mr. Allen and Poe reunited to some extent and Mr. Allen helped Poe get into West Point Military Academy and Poe managed to get himself expelled. He published one book before and one book after his experience at West Point. Poe spent much of his time alone with his thoughts, sad memories and without money. His brother and sister both died from tuberculosis. When his stepfather, Mr. Allen died he did not leave Poe anything. Poe ended up becoming a renowned magazine writer and vicious critic who notoriously critiqued the writer but even the establishments that promoted the writers. When Poe was twenty seven he married a thirteen year old girl named Virginia and it is said they were quite happy together. Still plagued with financial difficulties he continued to write for different magazines. Later his beloved wife died of tuberculosis as well. This was the only time in his life that he was unable to write. In January 1845 he wrote ´The Raven". He met Nancy Richmond, a married woman who would not leave her husband but she inspired Poe to write some of his best poetry. The relationship was short-lived and Poe proposed to Sarah Helen also a poetry writer but the relationship was brief, only lasting only a month. Poe reunited with his first love, Elmira Royster Shelton who was a widow and they were engaged. Poe died two years after his wife’s death in a bar room of a public house used for voting in elections. The last days of his life were spent surrounded by strangers and far from home. No one really knows what he died from but he was forty years old at the time of his death and died October 7, 1849. After his death his book sales increased dramatically after an attack by Rufus Griswold who wrote lies about Poe that attracted public attention to Poe’s work and Edgar Allen Poe became famous after his death primarily due to the fame acquired by the vicious attacks.
Edgar Allan Poe: Terror of The Soul (Documentary)
Edgar Allan Poe-Best Buys
Edgar Allan Poe-List of Most Famous Writings
- “The Raven”
- “The Cask of Amontillado”
- “The Masque of the Red Death”
- “The Tell-Tale Heart”
- “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”
- “The Fall of the House of Usher”
- "Metzengerstein"
- "The Gold Bug"
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References
- Poe Museum. (Retrieved 02/23/2010) http://www.poemuseum.org/life.php
- Poe Stories.com http://poestories.com/read/telltaleheart
- Edgar Allan Poe: Terror of The Soul (Documentary). (2019). YouTube. Retrieved 12 April 2019, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXsU4C7-rxQ