Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe was arguably one of the best writers in his day. He was definitely one of the best writers that ever used the gothic style. He was also one of the first writers to popularize this absurd or even horrifying writing style. This style developed from his hardship-filled life. These hardships came in various forms, but mainly came in the form of death and he just had a hard life in general. These tragic and unfortunate experiences were often reflected in both his poems and his short stories.

Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 19, 1809. His parents were David and Eliza Poe, who both happened to be in a local acting company that was currently performing at the Federal Street Theatre (Woodberry 1). With his father having disappeared while on business in New York, his mother was left to raise him on her own.

1848 Daguerreotype of Edgar Allan Poe at 39, a yea...

Edgar Allan Poe Museum (Richmond, Virginia)

Title page for Edgar Allan Poe's Tales of the Grot...

It was not meant to be though, because she died tragically on the eighth of December in 1811, leaving behind three young children: William, Edgar, and Rosalie (Woodberry 15). The confused Edgar was now orphaned and became the ward of the well-off Richmond family, the Allans (Alexander 102). Mr. John Allan was the co-owner of the merchandising firm, The House of Ellis and Allan.

Poe's first real education came when his father moved to London in order to try and develop his business there. Poe was then sent to both the Chelsea and the Stoke Newington boarding schools in the suburbs of London (Carnes 608). Although he was a brilliant student, excelling especially in mathematics, he did not enjoy his days spent there. In July of 1820 Mr. Allan's business collapsed, and they were forced to return to Richmond in order to avoid the creditors that Allan was indebted...