Edgar Allan Poe

Born Jan. 19, 1809 Died Oct. 7, 1849 Married Virginia Clemm (his 13-year- old cousin) in (Ewwwwww!) Recognized as the father of modern crime and detective stories.

Poe’s parents died when he was very young, he was taken in by Frances and John Allan (hence the “Allan” in “Edgar Allan Poe.”)

Poe attended the University of Virginia, then served in the army for two years. Poe had to move out – his foster dad was angry with him over his gambling problem.

Tamerlane and Other Poems – his first book, was published in 1827.

In 1831, Edgar and his brother Henry moved to Baltimore to live with his aunt Maria. Henry died shortly after moving in, and Poe put the moves on Maria’s daughter Virginia. (No wonder he writes horror stories!)

In 1845, Poe published The Raven and Other Poems – which made him famous.

Virginia died in 1847 of tuberculosis. Poe soon after got engaged to his teenage sweetheart, Elmira Royster – they never got married.

Poe died in Baltimore at the age of 40. No one knows how for sure, but possible causes include: Alcohol, drugs, cholera, rabies, suicide, tuberculosis, heart disease, and brain congestion.

Poe’s Works The Black Cat, Annabel Lee, The Bells, The Raven, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Masque of the Read Death, Murders in the Rue Morgue, and of course, what we’re going to read: The Cask of Amontillado.