Edgar Allan Poe is one of the world’s most famous writers. He popularized the horror genre of fiction and is considered the inventor of modern detective stories. Poe is also believed to be one of the first American authors to earn a living relying solely on his writing, which led him to spend most of his life in poverty. Continue reading to learn more interesting facts about Edgar Allan Poe that you probably didn’t know before.
Edgar Allan Poe’s Name Was Possibly Inspired By Shakespeare
Edgar Allan Poe’s parents David and Eliza Poe were actors and performed in Shakespeare’s play King Lear in the year he was born. There is a belief that David and Eliza named their newborn Edgar after the King Lear character Edgar, the son of Earl of Gloucester.
Edgar Allan Poe Was a Military Man
At the age of 18, Edgar Allan Poe joined the military and earned the rank of sergeant major before enrolling at the United States Military Academy at West Point. However, life at the military academy wasn’t for Poe, who excelled in classes like math and science but struggled with discipline. He started being negligent in his duties until he got dismissed.
Edgar Allan Poe Wrote Just One Novel
While Edgar Allan Poe was a prolific author, he only wrote one complete novel, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket. The book was a commercial and critical failure, leading Poe to get a low-paying job as assistant editor for Burton’s Gentleman’s Magazine and completely focus on writing short stories.
Edgar Allan Poe’s Death is a Mystery
Edgar Allan Poe died on October 7, 1849, at the age of 40 but no one knows the true cause and circumstances of his death. According to accounts, he left his New York City home on September 27 and spent a week missing before reappearing in one tavern in Baltimore. Being in poor condition and delirious, Poe was taken to a hospital and died several days later. No autopsy was performed and a number of theories were proposed about the cause of his death but neither has been universally accepted.