(January 19, 1809 Boston, MA – October 7, 1849 Baltimore, MD)
Edgar Allan Poe, one of America’s most celebrated poets and authors, had a tumultuous yet highly influential life, marked by his stays in various cities that shaped his literary career.
Boston
Born in Boston in 1809, Poe published his first collection of poems, “Tamerlane and Other Poems,” in 1827 under the pseudonym “A Bostonian.” Despite his Boston beginnings, Poe’s literary journey took him to several other key cities.
New York
In New York, Poe found a significant platform for his writing. It was here that he published his first novel, “The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket” in 1838. His stay in New York also saw the publication of his famous poetry collection, “The Raven and Other Poems,” in 1845, featuring the iconic poem
“The Raven,” which brought him widespread acclaim.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia was another pivotal city in Poe’s career. During his years there from 1838 to 1844, he worked as an editor for various magazines and published some of his most notable short stories, including “The Fall of the House of Usher” and “The Tell-Tale Heart.” This period is often regarded as the most productive phase of his writing life. The Fall of the House of Usher you can see now on Netflix.
Baltimore
Finally, Baltimore, the city where Poe spent his last years and ultimately died in 1849, holds a significant place in his legacy. It was here that he published “MS. Found in a Bottle,” which won a literary prize and marked his first major success.
Those cities but also Charlottesville and Richmond, Virginia, Irvine, Scotland and London, UK played a crucial role in the development of Poe’s literary genius, contributing to his enduring legacy as a master of the macabre and the mysterious.
