Tadashi

Written by Tadashi

Modified & Updated: 18 May 2024

Sherman Smith

Reviewed by Sherman Smith

Edgar Allan Poe facts

Popular audiences tend to paint Edgar Allan Poe as a horror or mystery writer. However, while he did write for both genres, he also dabbled in other genres. He wrote detective stories, comedies, even early science-fiction. In addition to being an author, Poe also had a reputation as the literary critic of his day, dominating the USA’s literary stage in more ways than one. Learn more about the man with these 30 Edgar Allan Poe Facts.

  1. Edgar Allan Poe published a total of 69 poems.
  2. Despite his reputation as a horror author, Poe actually wrote only 15 horror stories.
  3. He ultimately has a total of 70 short stories under his belt.
  4. Poe also finished two novels and nine literary essays.
  5. His single play, Politician, was left incomplete after his early death.
  1. David Poe Jr. and Elizabeth Hopkins Poe had Edgar Poe on January 19, 1809.
  2. His mother’s death and his father’s disappearance left him an orphan in 1810.
  3. John Allan adopted Edgar into his family that same year.
  4. Poe entered the University of Virginia in 1826, only to enlist in the US Army a year later.
  5. In 1830, he went to the officer academy at West Point, only to drop out a year later.
  6. Poe began his career as a writer in 1831, after his older brother Henry’s death.
  7. He married his 13-year-old cousin Virginia Clemm in 1837.
  8. Virginia caught tuberculosis in 1842 and died from the disease in 1847.
  9. Poe became an alcoholic after his wife’s death.
  10. He finally died from unknown causes on October 7, 1849.
  1. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, claimed Poe created the detective story genre.
  2. The Mystery Writers of America named their award for excellence in the genre, the Edgars, in Poe’s honor.
  3. Horror writer H.P. Lovecraft also described Poe as his role model.
  4. Science fiction writer Jules Verne also considered Poe as an inspiration.
  5. Poe also inspired the works of suspense film producer, Sir Alfred Hitchcock.
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