Edgar Allan Poe
- Born:
- January 19, 1809, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Died:
- October 7, 1849, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Author, Poet, Editor, Literary Critic
Early Life and Education
- Born to actors David Poe Jr. and Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins Poe.
- Orphaned at a young age and taken in by John Allan, a wealthy merchant in Richmond, Virginia.
- Attended the University of Virginia for a brief period, excelling academically but forced to leave due to gambling debts.
- Enlisted in the U.S. Army under the assumed name "Edgar Perry."
- Briefly attended West Point Military Academy before being deliberately discharged.
Career and Major Achievements
- Began his literary career with the publication of Tamerlane and Other Poems (1827).
- Served as editor for several literary journals, including the Southern Literary Messenger, Burton's Gentleman's Magazine, and Graham's Magazine.
- Gained recognition for his short stories and poems, pioneering the detective fiction genre.
- Developed influential theories on short story writing and literary criticism.
- His critical reviews were often harsh and gained him enemies within the literary community.
Notable Works
- Poems: The Raven, Annabel Lee, The Bells, To Helen
- Short Stories: The Tell-Tale Heart, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Gold-Bug
- Essays and Literary Criticism: The Philosophy of Composition, The Poetic Principle
Legacy and Impact
Edgar Allan Poe remains a significant figure in American and world literature. His tales of mystery and the macabre, coupled with his innovative approach to poetry and literary criticism, have had a lasting influence on subsequent generations of writers and artists. Any comprehensive study seeking 'poe whole life biography' will invariably find his contribution seminal to the development of the short story and detective fiction genres.