Edgar Allan Poe

2018-01-19

Edgar Poe
January 19, 1809 - October 7, 1849
American Author, Poet, Editor, Critic

One of those enduring memories of my childhood surround the literature of Edgar Allan Poe. While he was the subject of numerous lessons in various English classes I took during the 12 years comprising my preeductation ... I found myself immersed in his writings and subjects primarily due to the side inputs afforded to me at home.

I had access to numerous books and even multimedia records of his various works performed dramatically and of these I partook because they were made available to me by my mother.

It was fitting that he became a favorite author of mine, both due to my personal interest in the macabre and as the result of those many stimulus inputs in the form of records and books to which I had copious access.

Edgar Allan Poe was an icon of American literature who wrote, edited, and criticized literary works at a time when those pursuits were hardly main stream. He wrote poetry and short stories and many of his works centered around mystery and the macabre ... which was my primary attraction to those works.

He was a central figure in the United States and American Literature being one of the primary developers of the short story as a specific genre. Today is the 209th anniversary of his birth.