Classic American Short Stories | Edgar Allan Poe Biography

Edgar Allan Poe Biography

Known as the “Father of the Modern Short Story” and the “Father of the Mystery and Detective Story,” Edgar Allan Poe (1809 – 1848) is also viewed as one of the great American writers of the nineteenth century. After his father abandoned the family and his mother's death a year later, Poe was taken in by Mr. and Mrs. John Allan, but they never adopted him. While they lived in England, Poe and his stepfather began to argue fiercely and frequently. Mrs. Allan died, John remarried, and he and Poe became even further estranged.

Poe began writing in 1827 but became popular only after the publication of his poem, “The Raven,” in 1845. His poems and stories are carefully and beautifully constructed, presenting one coherent whole without any diversions or subplots. Poe's philosophy of writing departed from the commonly accepted one because he refused to write didactic, moralistic stories, but rather entered the world of popular entertainment due to the dark subject matter he wrote about. Often considered the master of the macabre, Poe also wrote precise literary criticism, which influenced generations of future writers.

Because of his lifestyle—which included a marriage to his 14-year-old cousin, and battles with alcoholism and possibly drugs—and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death, Poe's contemporary critics frequently undervalued his talents. Modern evaluations, though, recognize that Edgar Allan Poe left behind an enduring legacy of work that few others will ever equal.