Biography of Edgar Poe, military career, creativity

The biography of Edgar P is full of white spots. This is due to the disdainful attitude of many of his contemporaries and the plight of the writer. In fact, the story of the poet began to be restored unbiased only in the twentieth century, but by that time information about his life remained little. Today Edgar Allan Poe remains one of the most mysterious personalities. On the circumstances of his death as early as 1849 there were many assumptions, but the real reason for the poet's death is likely to remain forever unsolved. However, this fact does not prevent millions of people today from enjoying the prose and poetry of the great writer.

Loss of parents, foster family

The history of Edgar Poe begins January 19, 1809 in Boston (USA). There was a future writer in the family of strolling artists. With her parents, Edgar had not long to live: his mother died of consumption, when he was only two years old, his father either disappeared, or died even earlier. Then the boy, by and large, the only time in his life was lucky - he was taken to foster Allana's wife. Francis, the adopted mother, fell in love with the baby and persuaded her husband, the wealthy merchant John, to adopt him. He was not happy with the appearance of Edgar, but he gave in to his wife, who could not give birth to her own son.

Childhood Edgar Allan Poe spent in Virginia. He did not need anything: he was dressed in the latest fashion, he had at his disposal dogs, a horse and even a servant. The future writer began his education in a London boarding house, where he was sent to 6 years. In the US, the boy returned with his family when he was eleven. There he went to college in Richmond, and then, in 1826, - to the University of Virginia, which opened a year before.

The end of luck

Edgar quickly learned the knowledge, differed in physical endurance and passionate, nervous character, which subsequently brought him a lot of trouble. As biographers note, the last feature predetermined his quarrel with his father. The exact reasons are unknown: whether the young writer forged the signature of his stepfather on bills, or he got angry because of the card debts of the adopted son. One way or another, and at age 17 Poe was left without money and left the university, having finished his studies only in the first year.

The young man returned to Boston, where he began to study poetry. Edgar Po Poems written in that period, decided to publish under the pseudonym "Boston". However, his plan failed: the book did not come out, and already the meager means were over.

Short military career

In this situation Edgar Poe made an unexpected decision. He entered the military service under an assumed name. In the army Po stayed about a year. He received the rank of sergeant major, was listed as one of the best, but could not stand such a regulated life. Presumably, in early 1828 the young poet turned for help to his stepfather. That after the persuasion of his wife helped Edgar get out of the service. The writer did not have enough time to thank her stepmother: she died on the eve of his arrival in Richmond. So the poet lost the second truly dear to him a woman.

Baltimore, West Point and the long-awaited publication

Safely leaving the army, Edgar for some time went to Baltimore. There he met with relatives of his father: Aunt Maria Klemm, Uncle George Poe, his son Nelson. Being in a tight financial situation, the writer settled with his aunt, and later returned to Richmond.

During his stay in Baltimore, Edgar met W. Gwyn, the editor of a local newspaper, and through him, and with J. Neal, a writer from New York. Po handed them his poems. After receiving positive reviews, Edgar decided again to try to publish them. A collection entitled "Al-Aaraaaf, Tamerlan and Small Poems" was published in 1829, but was not widely known.

My stepfather insisted on continuing the training of the adoptive son, and in 1830 the young man entered the Military Academy at West Point. Despite the strict schedule of the day, Edgar Poe found time for creativity and entertained fellow practitioners with satirical poetry sketches of life in the academy. He had to serve five years, but, like last time, already at the very beginning of training realized that a military career was not for him. Edgar tried again to address his stepfather, but another quarrel broke his plans. However, the poet did not lose his head: after ceasing to observe the charter, he obtained an exception from the academy in 1831.

Attempts to achieve recognition

The biography of Edgar Poe is extremely meager on information about his life in the period from 1831 to 1833. It is known that he lived for some time in Baltimore with Maria Klemm. There he fell in love with her daughter and her cousin Virginia. The girl then was only 9 years old. Since the autumn of 1831, nothing is known about the life of the poet. Some researchers of his biography believe that he could go on a trip to Europe. In favor of this fact indirectly evidenced by numerous detailed descriptions of the Old World, found on the pages of the writer's works. Nevertheless, there is no other confirmation of this theory. Many biographers point out that Po was severely restricted in funds and could hardly afford traveling expenses.

However, all researchers agree that the three years that followed the deletion from West Point were productive. Edgar Poe, whose books were not yet popular, continued to work. In 1833, he presented six short stories and poems at the Contest of the Baltimore Weekly Saturday Visitor. Both were recognized as the best. For the story "A manuscript found in a bottle" Po was rewarded with a cash prize of $ 100.

In addition to money, Edgar got some fame, and with it also invitations to work in magazines. He began collaborating with Saturday Visitor, and then with Southern Literary Messenger, published in Richmond. In the latter, the writer published in 1835 the novella "Morella" and "Berenice" and a little later - "The Adventures of Hans Pfall."

Gorgeous Virginia

In the same year Edgar Poe, whose works already enjoyed greater fame than before, received an invitation to become editor of the Southern Literary Messenger. To take office with a fee of $ 10 per month, it was necessary to move to Richmond. He agreed, but before his departure he wished to be married to beloved Virginia, who was then less than 13 years old. The girl of extraordinary beauty has long captivated the writer. In the characters of many of his works you can guess her image. Virginia's mother agreed, and the young secretly married, after which Poe left for Richmond, and his lover lived for another year in Baltimore. In 1836 the official ceremony took place.

Less than a year later Edgar Poe quarreled with the publisher of Southern Literary Messenger, resigned as editor and moved to New York with Maria Klemm and Virginia.

New York and Philadelphia

Two years, lived in New York, were mixed for the writer. Edgar Poe, whose poems and prose were printed on the pages of several magazines of the city, received very little for their work. He published works such as "Ligeia" and "The Adventures of Arthur Gordon Pym," but earned the most on the guide to chronology, which was a shortened version of the Scottish professor's work.

In 1838 the family moved to Philadelphia. Edgar received the work of the editor of the magazine Gentleman's Magazine, where he published several of his works. These included the "Fall of the House of Esher" and the beginning of unfinished "Yulia Rodman's Notes".

Dream and reality

Working in different publications, Edgar Poe was looking for something more. He dreamed of his own magazine. The closest thing to the embodiment of the idea, he approached in Philadelphia. There were announcements of a new magazine called Penn Magazine. To fulfill the dream, there was not enough money, but this obstacle proved insurmountable.

In 1841, Gentleman's Magazine teamed up with The Casket - a new magazine, Graham's Magazine, was launched, Edgar Poe became the editor-in-chief. Stories, poems and short stories written earlier, he shortly before combined in two volumes and published a collection of works "Grotesques and arabesques" in late 1840. It was a short period when everything seemed to go well. However, as early as March 1842, Edgar was again unemployed. The magazine fell apart, and Rufus Wilmot Griswold was invited to the editorial office of Gentleman's Magazine. The latter, according to one of the versions, was the reason for Poe's departure: he, to put it mildly, disliked Grizwold.

Then there was a work at the Saturday Museum and the publication of several fairy tales and short stories for the pennies. The exception, perhaps, was only the "Golden Beetle". His Edgar sent a literary contest. "Golden Beetle" won and brought to its author $ 100. After the story was republished many times, which, however, did not bring income to the writer, since the law on copyright was then a matter of the future.

New misfortune

The biography of Edgar Poe is full of sad events. As noted by the researchers of his life, the cause of many of them was his passionate nature, his propensity for depression and alcohol. However, one of the main tragedies - the death of Virginia - was not due to his fault. The poet's wife was sick with tuberculosis. The first sign of a serious illness, throat bleeding, manifested itself in 1842. The patient was on the verge of death, but after some time recovered. However, consumption, which took the mother of Edgar, did not give up. Virginia slowly died for several years.

For the unstable nervous system of the writer it was a heavy blow. He practically stopped writing. The family was in desperate need of money again. In 1844 they returned to New York. Here were published new works, which Edgar Poe wrote. "Raven", the poet's most famous poem, was published in the magazine Evening Mirror.

The culmination of creativity

Today Edgar Poe is considered one of the best American authors. He laid the beginning of the genre of "science fiction", the writer's books were the first samples of a mystical detective. The main work of Po, which brought him fame and recognition, but not wealth, was "Raven". The poem perfectly conveys the writer's attitude to life. Only a short moment, filled with suffering and hard work, is released to man, and all his hopes are vain. The lyrical hero yearns for the lost lover and asks the talking bird if he will ever be able to see her again. This is Edgar Poe: "Raven" is distinguished by a special internal tension and tragedy, which grab the reader completely, despite the almost total absence of the plot.

For the publication of the writer received 10 dollars. However, the Raven brought him something more than money. The poet became famous, he was invited to lecture in different cities, which somewhat strengthened his financial position. During the year that the "white" band lasted, Pau published a collection of "Raven and Other Poems", published several new short stories and was invited to the editorial office of the journal Brodway Journal. However, even here the irrepressible nature did not allow him long to prosper. In 1845, he quarreled with other publishers, remained the only editor, but because of a shortage of funds was soon forced to part with the post.

Last years

Poverty returned to the house, and with it cold and hunger. Virginia died in early 1847. Many biographers note that the suffering poet was on the verge of insanity. For a time he could not work because of grief and alcohol and survived only thanks to the care of a few faithful friends. But sometimes he collected strength and wrote. For this period, the creation of such works as "Yulalum", "Bells", "Annabel Lee" and "Eureka". He fell in love again and, just before his death, was about to marry again. In Richmond, where the writer lectured on the "Poetic Principle", his literary work, Edgar Poe met a childhood friend Sarah Elmira Royster. He swore to the bride that it was finished with bouts and depressions. Before the wedding, it only remained to settle some matters in Philadelphia and New York.

Mystery of Edgar Allan Poe

October 3, 1849 Edgar Poe was found in a half-mad state on a bench in Baltimore. He was taken to the hospital, where he passed away without regaining consciousness, on October 7. There is still no consensus on the causes of the death of the writer. Many researchers of the subject are inclined to the version of the so-called shopping. By found on election day. Then in Baltimore the groups that drove citizens into secret shelters rioted. People were pumped up with alcohol or drugs, and then forced to vote several times for the "right" candidate. There is evidence that Edgar Poe was drunk during the detection, and near one of the ill-fated bench was one of such shelters. On the other hand, the writer at that time was famous in Baltimore and it is unlikely that he would be chosen as a victim.

Among the possible causes today are called various diseases, from hypoglycemia and brain tumors to alcoholism and overdose of laudanum. The reason for this confusion is the lack of medical documents and the first biography of Edgar Allan Poe, written by Griswold, the writer's enemy. He exposed the poet to a drunkard and a madman, not worthy of trust and attention. This point of view on the personality of Poe dominated until the end of the XIX century.

Creative heritage

One version says that Poe's death was planned by the writer himself, as the last spectacular gesture for the public, greedy for mysticism and horror. The poet was sensitive to what the reader wanted. He understood that romanticism is much inferior in popularity to mysticism, tickling nerves and keeping in suspense. Edgar Poe, whose stories were full of fantastic incidents, skilfully combined imagination and logic. He became a pioneer in the genre of the mystical detective. A significant place in the writings of the writer is science fiction. Edgar Poe's books are distinguished by a combination of imagination and logic. He laid a tragic tradition in American literature, formulated the principles of science fiction, gave the world a mystical detective.

Today Edgar Poe, whose books are inspiration for many people, is considered a representative of intuitionism - a philosophical direction that recognizes the primacy of intuition in the process of cognition. However, the writer knew well that creativity is also a painstaking work. He created his aesthetic paradigm and several works on the theory of poetry: "Philosophy of creativity", "Novellistika Nathaniel Hawthorne," "Poetic principle." In "Eureka" the writer presented philosophical and epistemological ideas. The contribution of Edgar Allan Poe to the development of literature, including many beloved by modern readers of genres, is invaluable. Studying his biography makes you think about destiny and purpose. Who knows, Edgar Poe would have created so much, if life was more favorable to him?