Edgar Allen Poe

            Edgar Allan Poe, if there were to be a gothic Shakespeare he would take form as .
             He writes with some emotion and creativity that few can deny the .
             greatness of his works. He brought about the beginning of the horror story. Nowadays I .
             doubt you could go to the theatre and not find a scary movie to watch. The only .
             difference is that Poe's writing has an eerie feeling to it, a certain cloud that clings to you .
             like a spider web. His life is almost like a horror story itself as you will learn from my .
             essay. He had a long life, many literary accomplishments, and lots of interesting .
             experiences in his life.
             Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston on January 19, 1809. His mother, Elizabeth .
             Poe. Was an actress who had gained some respect as a leading lady. His father David .
             Poe, Jr., had pursued a somewhat less successful career on the stage punctuated by .
             alcoholism. When Poe was two years old his father abandoned his mother leaving her to .
             care for young Poe. Some time during 1811 his mother brought him along with his .
             brothers and sisters to Richmond, Virginia and his mother died later that year. Poe was .
             then sent to stay with John and Frances Allan who could not have children of there own. .
             John Allan was an English merchant who knew the value of education. In his childhood .
             Poe's father took him to England, there Poe attended many find schools and became .
             Familiar with the Gothic literature, which was popular in Europe at that time.
             They returned to Richmond in 1820 and continued schooling. The mother of one of his .
             Classmates became fond of Poe and he considered her his mother. When he was fifteen .
             Died of a brain tumor. Also around this time John Allan's trading firm collapsed and he .
             fell into affairs and drinking. In 1825 Allan inherited a large sum of money, this enabled .
             him to enroll Poe at the University of Virginia. Due to the low allowance that Allan gave .
             him Poe was forced to take up gambling.