STORE   HOME PAGE   DVD   KAT NEWS   MUSIC   METAL VIDEOS   HOT PHOTOS   ARTICLES   RADIO   GUESTBOOK   KAT BIO   CLASSICAL  COMPOSERS   GENIUSES   REVIEW COPIES   LINKS   CONTACT KAT		EDGAR ALLAN POE EDGAR ALLAN POE BIOGRAPHY 1809-1849   Tortured genius writer of such brilliant masterpieces as "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Raven", Poe is considered the Master of the Macabre and the Father of the Modern Detective Story and died penniless at the age of 40.   Edgar Allan Poe was born on Jan. 19, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts to parents who were travelling actors. Poe was cruelly abandoned by his father and his mother tragically died before he was 3 years old, leaving him an orphan. He was sent to be raised by his rich, dominating merchant godfather, John Allan and his wife. Poe studied in schools in Europe and at the University of Virginia. He left the University after only 8 months, due to gambling debts. Poe attended West Point and was expelled for infraction of rules.   In 1827, at the age of 18, Poe's first book, a volume of poems called "Tamerlane and other Poems", was published (a single rare copy has recently sold for $200,000!). In 1835, Poe became the editor of the Southern Literary Messenger in Richmond, but lost that post due to his excessive drinking. Poe's life was filled with self-destruction, alcoholism, ill health, gambling debts and total poverty. In 1836, Poe married his 13 year old cousin, Virginia Clemm.   Poe made many enemies in his life by challenging the moralistic literary establishment and by his vicious critical style of other writer's works. Poe alternated between editing and writing prose and poetry. Throughout the 1830's and 1840's, he wrote macabre, terrifying short stories and poems, such as the famous works: "The Raven" ("Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary'") "The Tell-Tale Heart" ("I admit the deed! - Tear up the planks! here, here! - It is the beating of his hideous heart!") "The Masque of the Red Death", "The Cask of Amontillado", "The Pit and the Pendulum", "The Black Cat", "The Purloined Letter", "The Fall of the House of Usher".   "The Raven" won Poe national fame and Poe finally began to become famous for his works. "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" was considered the first modern detective story. Poe was also considered the inventor of gothic fiction.   In 1847, Poe's wife, Virginia, died of tuberculosis. Poe began to drink more and became more out of control and even took opium. Poe wrote the famous poem "Annabel Lee" ("That the wind came out of the cloud by night, Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee.") for Virginia. By 1848, Poe was going mad and attempted suicide.     A year later Poe was due to marry the rich Sarah Shelton. On the day of their wedding, October 3, 1849, Edgar Allan Poe was found drunk, lying in the gutter outside a tavern in Baltimore and was taken unconscious to the hospital.   Four days later, Edgar Allan Poe, penniless and tortured genius, died on October 7, 1849 at the age of 40. Every year since 1949 (the 100th anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe's death), a mysterious person comes to Poe's grave and leaves 3 roses and a bottle of cognac on Poe's birthday.   Edgar Allan Poe was a brilliant writer of horrifying, yet beautiful stories and poems, who used his tormented genius to create masterpieces.   The contents of all music, photos, graphics, text and videos are protected by copyright and may not be used or reproduced without prior express written authorization from the publisher.