Edgar Allen Poe

            Edgar Allan Poe is considered to be one of the greatest poets and writers of short story fiction. He is branded as the father of the American short story and father of the detective story. Poe is primarily known for writing horror/gothic stories, but also has another fame in which he wrote detective stories and in fact started the whole genre of detective fiction. He practically created the detective story and perfected the psychological thriller. Poe did not write any detective novels, just short stories that later on became the most influential pieces of work for the detective story genre. Many authors have made great contributions to the world of literature. Mark Twain introduced Americans to life on the Mississippi. Thomas Hardy wrote on his pessimistic views of the Victorian Age and Edgar Allan Poe gave us the dark and gloomy side of fiction stories. To better understand Poe and his writings, you need to look at his early life. .
             Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston on January 19, 1809. His parents, David Poe and Elizabeth Arnold Poe were poverty struck parents so he was born into poverty. Two years after Poe was born his mother died from tuberculosis. Poe then had to be put up for adoption and was later on adopted by John Allan (Compton's).
             In the spring of 1826, Poe entered the University of Virginia. He did not have money to support himself and his stepfather would not help him with his finances (Compton's). Poe began to drink and gamble his money away. He could not pay tuition and had to withdraw from the university. In May of 1827, Poe enlisted in the army. He eventually got tired of the daily routine and got himself discharged from the army (Compton's).
             Poe then moved to New York to find a job but was unsuccessful. In the summer of 1838, he moved to Philadelphia, where he worked as the editor of both Buron's Gentleman Magazine and Graham's Magazine (Meyers 75). The year of 1845 was a good year for Poe.