Edgar Allan Poe, son of Actress Eliza Poe and Actor David Poe Jr.,

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Edgar Allan Poe, son of Actress Eliza Poe and Actor David Poe Jr.,

born 19th of January 1809, was mostly known for his poems and short

tales

Edgar Allan Poe, son of Actress Eliza Poe and Actor David Poe Jr.,

born 19th of January 1809, was mostly known for his poems and short

tales and his literary criticism. He has been given credit for

inventing the detective story and his pshycological thrillers have

been infuences for many writers worldwide.

Edgar and his brother and sister were orphaned before Edgar's third

birthday and Edgar was taken in to the home of John and Fanny Allan in

Richmond, Va. The Allans lived in England for five years (1815-1820)

where Edgar also attended school. In 1826 he entered the University of

Virginia. Although a good student he was forced to gambling since John

Allan did not provide well enough. Allan refused to pay Edgar's debts

and Edgar had to leave the University after only one year.

In 1827 Edgar published his first book, "Tamerlane and other poems"

anonymously under the signature "A Bostonian". The poems were heavily

influenced from Byron and showed of a youthful attitude.

Later in 1827 Edgar enlisted in the Army under the name Edgar A Perry

where his quarrels with John Allan continued. Edgar did well in the

army but in 1829 he left and decided to apply for a cadetship at West

Point.

Before he was able to enter West Point Edgar published a book entitled

"Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and minor poems", this time the book was

published, not anonymously, but under the name Edgar A. Poe, where the

middle initial acknowledged John Allan's name. Before Edgar left West

Point he received financial aid from his fellow cadets to publish a

third edition of the book. Edgar called it a second edition though and

it was entitled "Poems by Edgar A. Poe" in which his famous poems "To

Helen" (another version was published in 1848) and "Israfel" appeared.

These show of the musical effect that has come to characterize Edgar's

poems.

Later Poe moved to Baltimore to live with his aunt, Maria Clemm, and

his first cousin Virginia. In 1832 he won a $50 prize for his story

"MS. Found in a Bottle" in the Baltimore Saturday Visiter. In 1835 Poe

brought his aunt and cousin to Richmond where he worked with Thomas

Willis White at the Southern Litterary Messenger. He also married his

cousin Virginia, only thirteen years old.

Most of Edgar's work with the Messenger were of a critical nature but

he also published some literary work such as "Berenice".

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