Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849)

Edgar Allan Poe was an American poet, short-story writer, editor and literary critic, and is considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective-fiction genre. He is further credited with contributing to the emerging genre of science fiction. He was the first well-known American writer to try to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career.

Poe and his works influenced literature in many specialized fields, such as cosmology and cryptography. Edgar Allan Poe and his work appear throughout popular culture in literature, music, films, and television. A number of his homes are dedicated museums today.