Edgar Allan Poe is regarded as, among many things, a master of dark fiction. His poems and stories chill the blood, even today. This bibliography is written on the life of the famous American poet offers great insight into his life and his passions. Edgar Allan Poe may very well be the single greatest author of the Gothic movement; and judging by both his writing and his life, it would be easy to assume he was a very troubled man. But the grim visage seen in Poe's popular portrait and the grisly gruesome plots of his various tales are not the full length and extent of the father of the modern mystery. A look into his critical essays and into the behavior of the man himself reveals that Poe had an undying optimism despite the many tragedies and tribulations of his life. Optimism is hardly the word someone would use to describe Edgar Allan Poe, after a brief synopsis of his life. History takes particular pleasure in pointing out the most dire events and unpleasant trends in Poe's life which creates a general feeling of negativity when coupled with his bleak writing. It is true that tragedy followed Poe, especially in regards with the women he loved. Both his mother and his wife died young, leaving gaping wounds in Poe's heart. These particular losses resonate through virtually all of his writing, lending a very personal credibility that casts a shadow over the readers perception of the author. Poe also struggled extensively with both personal and professional issues. He is famously remembered being financially and personally irresponsible which, as might be expected, interfered with what attempts he made at gainful employment. Early in life, his temper got him kicked out of his godfather's house and his family's inheritance. He also struggled with gambling for a time, gaining considerable debts. This set the tone for much of his future financial state. He is also considered one of the first American authors to attempt writing as a sole source of income, something which he struggled with woefully because the publishing industry was entirely unsuited to such an endeavor.
