Edgar Allan Poe

[belinda]

Hello Belinda

Yes Poe did have a very troubled relationship with his stepfather, Richmond tobacco merchant John Allan, although, as you note, he was attached to his stepmother, who unfortunately passed away.

Poe lost his birth mother, English-born actress Elizabeth Arnold Poe, to consumption at a young age. His father, actor David Poe Jr., seems to have just disappeared but it might be assumed that he died as well.

Allan probably hoped that by helping Edgar to enroll at West Point, at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, and finally in the Army at Fort Moultrie might straighten out his young ward and correct his disippated ways.

While Eddie was at the university, Allan had to pay off the young man's gambling debts which no doubt caused much of the bitterness between them.

To read Poe's beseeching letters to Allan and various friends begging for money makes for pitiful reading.

Chris

Poor Poe he lost so many people so young, the Consumption theme runs through so many of his stories,maybe Gambling was some sort of outlet.

I thought the friction started earlier between Poe and Allan. I can't remember where I read it but I thought that Allan resented having Poe in his Household from the start?

[ghoulstonstreet]

Poe's parents

I thought Poe had a troubled relationship with Allen though he was very attached to his step Mother

Wasn't it Allen who forced Poe into a miserable stint in the army?

As I understand it the Allens were his acting-troupe parents. They both died if I recall correctly and someone named Poe adopted him. This is the man with whom Edgar Allen Poe had a cool relationship. I believe Poe's fascination and comfortableness with death resulted from the early loss of his parents. He then was COMFORTABLE with Virginia, his cousin-wife, because he knew she would soon die as well. And of course death plays prominently in most of his stories.

[ghoulstonstreet]

Ho Ho Poe?

Hello you all!

Yes, Poe was a mysterious drunk and drug-addict.

But some years ago I read a piece of information, that surprised me completely;

He was also known as a good stand-up comedian at the time!

Well, maybe Hopfrog tells, how he really felt about this kind of reputation...

All the best
Jukka

Stand Up Comedian? Now that IS truly a shocker.

[belinda]

As I understand it the Allens were his acting-troupe parents. They both died if I recall correctly and someone named Poe adopted him. This is the man with whom Edgar Allen Poe had a cool relationship. I believe Poe's fascination and comfortableness with death resulted from the early loss of his parents. He then was COMFORTABLE with Virginia, his cousin-wife, because he knew she would soon die as well. And of course death plays prominently in most of his stories.

I'm sure Chris George is right about Poes parents.
From his writing I don't think I would say Poe was comfortable with death. I think he was tortured by it

[j.r-ahde]

Hello Belinda!

Unfortunately he got the names wrong; The parents of Edgar Allan Poe really had "Poe" as their last-name, originating from the Irish-originating father of Edgar.

Allan really was the tobacco merchant. Thus the "Allan" in the middle.

But because of the bitterness between mr. Allan and mr. Poe Edgar used "Edgar A.Poe" during his lifetime!

All the best
Jukka

[ChrisGeorge]

As I understand it the Allens were his acting-troupe parents. They both died if I recall correctly and someone named Poe adopted him. This is the man with whom Edgar Allen Poe had a cool relationship. . . .

No, sorry, ghoulstonstreet! With all due respect, you have the story of Poe's birth parentage and foster parents all wrong. It's the opposite way round as Belinda says in support of what I posted. Thanks, Belinda.

Chris

[ChrisGeorge]

Hi all

Check out my latest blog entry, "The Mystery of the Death of Edgar Allan Poe."

To read some interesting Poe-related letters go to Edgar Allan Poe Collection - Enoch Pratt Free Library (Baltimore).

Also check out the PDF of a February 26, 1893 New York Times account of Poe's burial here.

Chris

[Elizabeth Short]

I love Poe...re-reading his stories currently.

I think the rabies theory is interesting! Who knows...so many possibilities!

[ghoulstonstreet]

No, sorry, ghoulstonstreet! With all due respect, you have the story of Poe's birth parentage and foster parents all wrong. It's the opposite way round as Belinda says in support of what I posted. Thanks, Belinda.

Chris

Okay, thanks!

[belinda]

No, sorry, ghoulstonstreet! With all due respect, you have the story of Poe's birth parentage and foster parents all wrong. It's the opposite way round as Belinda says in support of what I posted. Thanks, Belinda.

Chris

I know the Poe Basics as it were. I've been a fan since I was a teenager

What's the best Biography of Poe out there?

[ChrisGeorge]

I know the Poe Basics as it were. I've been a fan since I was a teenager

What's the best Biography of Poe out there?

Hello Belinda

When I started researching Poe in the Seventies, at that time, probably the best biography was Hervey Allen's Israfel of 1934. That older book has now been superceded by Kenneth Silverman's exhaustive Edgar A. Poe: Mournful and Never-ending Remembrance (HarperCollins, 1992; reprinted by Paw Prints, 2008). You can get a taste of the book on Google Books.

All the best

Chris

[belinda]

Thanks Chris I'll check those out

[j.r-ahde]

Hello you all!

On tiny detail from my personal history;

The ones, who have read a short story called "The Confession-maker" from the Creative Writing and Expression thread on these boards, have probably noticed my Poe influences!

All the best
Jukka

[j.r-ahde]

Hello you all!

I've studied the big brother of EAP, Henry Poe, for some time.

Just out of interest;

Can anyone tell, where I could find his short-story "The Pirate"?

I have been trying for sometime now, but no luck so far!

All the best
Jukka