Inhisshort,troubledlifeEdgarAllanPoeoriginatedthemysterystory,broughtnewpsychologicaldepthtothetaleofhorror,andmadeinimitablecontributionstoRomanticpoetryandliterarycriticism.BorninBostonin1809toitinerantactors,PoewasorphanedasaninfantandsenttolivewithaRichmondmerchant,JohnAllan.AllansenthimtotheUniversityofVirginiain1826,butPoewithdrewbecauseofgamblingdebts.In1830,withhisfirstbookofpoemsalreadypublished,heenteredWestPointbutwasdishonorablydischargedthenextyear.In1835PoewaschoseneditoroftheSouthernLiteraryMessenger.Poewasalreadyestablishedasanauthorwhen,in1845,thepublicationof"TheRaven"madehimfamous.Hebegantolecture,engagedinacelebratedfeudwithLongfellow,andbecamesoleproprietorofhisownmagazine,BroadwayJournal.Butin1846themagazinewentbankrupt,andin1847,afteryearsofsuffering,Poe'swifediedofconsumption.Hisillhealthanddrinkingworsened.InOctober1849hewasfoundsemiconsciousoutsideapollingplaceinBaltimore;afewdayslaterhediedwithoutregainingconsciousness.
Ignoredforthemostpartbyhiscountrymen,hewasidolizedbytheFrenchSymbolists,whothoughtofhimasthefirstmodernpoetandhelpedtowinhimtherecognitionthatisnowhis.