Edgar Allan Poe was born
in Boston, Massachusetts, USA
on January 19, 1809
His parents died when
he was very young so he was
raised by John and Frances Allan
from Richmond, Virginia, USA
He attended school at
The University of Virginia
and then entered the army
for a short time
In 1835, when he was 27
years old, he married Virginia
Clemm.
She was only 13 years old
and they were first cousins
and they loved each other
more like brother and sister
than husband and wife.
Sadly, she died a few years
later in January 1842 from
tuberculosis.
Edgar Allan Poe mourned the death of Virginia
for many years and many of his poems about death
and lost love showed his saddness.
Edgar Allan Poe was the first person ever to try to earn
money through his writing alone. It was very hard but he
was able to publish many poems, short stories, literary
criticisms (his opinions on other writers’ works), and even
one novel.
His first book, Tamerlane and other
Poems, was published in July 1827
Instead of his name, the book only
has “A Bostonian” as the author
Many of the poems in this book
were inspired by Lord Byron,
another poet.
The book was not very successful
and Edgar Allan Poe rewrote some
of the poems later on in his life.
“The Raven” was published in
January 29, 1945 and made Poe
very popular (but not very rich).
The long poem shows the subject
that Poe became most well-known
for: love lost, sadness, and death.
Even though he wrote other short
stories and poems, some even for
children, he is still most known as
the “Master of Macabre” because
of the dark, gothic themes of most
of his works.
Some of Edgar Allan Poe’s Writings...
(illustrated by various artists)
The Masque of the Red Death
Short Story, published 1842
illustration by Harry Clarke 1919
Ulalume - A Ballad
Poem, published December 1847
illustration by Dante Gabriel Rossetti,
circa 1847-1848
The Narrative of Aurthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket
Poe’s only Novel, published 1838
Lenore (originally title A Paean)
Poem, published 1843
illustration by