Written by Tadashi
Modified & Updated: 08 Sep 2023
Reviewed by Sherman Smith
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.
- Edgar Allan Poe published a total of 69 poems.
- Despite his reputation as a horror author, Poe actually wrote only 15 horror stories.
- He ultimately has a total of 70 short stories under his belt.
- Poe also finished two novels and nine literary essays.
- His single play, Politician, was left incomplete after his early death.
- David Poe Jr. and Elizabeth Hopkins Poe had Edgar Poe on January 19, 1809.
- His mother’s death and his father’s disappearance left him an orphan in 1810.
- John Allan adopted Edgar into his family that same year.
- Poe entered the University of Virginia in 1826, only to enlist in the US Army a year later.
- In 1830, he went to the officer academy at West Point, only to drop out a year later.
- Poe began his career as a writer in 1831, after his older brother Henry’s death.
- He married his 13-year-old cousin Virginia Clemm in 1837.
- Virginia caught tuberculosis in 1842 and died from the disease in 1847.
- Poe became an alcoholic after his wife’s death.
- He finally died from unknown causes on October 7, 1849.
- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, claimed Poe created the detective story genre.
- The Mystery Writers of America named their award for excellence in the genre, the Edgars, in Poe’s honor.
- Horror writer H.P. Lovecraft also described Poe as his role model.
- Science fiction writer Jules Verne also considered Poe as an inspiration.
- Poe also inspired the works of suspense film producer, Sir Alfred Hitchcock.
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