The Life Of Edgar Allen Poe :: essays research papers

The Life of Edgar Allen Poe     Edgar Allen Poe, the greatest American teller of mystery and suspensetales in the 19th century was a tormented artist. He struggled to become theaccomplished author he is cognise as today. Poe is now acclaimed as one ofAmericas greatest writers, but in his own unhappy lifetime, he struggled tomake ends meet.     When he was 17, Poe entered the University of Virginia. Allan, his stepfather, gave Poe only when a small allowance, and the young man before long began owingmoney. He gambled and ran into greater debt. By the end of the year he owed2,500 dollars. He was offensive and unstable, and he began to drink. Despite hisfrequenting liquor, he could never hold it well. He would well become ill fromthe alcohol. Allan angrily withdrew Poe from school, and a few months later Poe leave home.For the next four old age Poe struggled to earn a living as a writer. Hereturned to Mrs. Clemms home and submitted stories to magazines. His first achievement came in 1833, when he entered a short- baloney contest and won a prize of50 dollars for the story "MS. Found in a Bottle." By 1835 he was the editor ofthe grey Literary Messenger. He married his cousin Virginia, who was only 13,and Mrs. Clemm stayed with the couple. The Poes had no children.     This success would not last. Poes stories, poems, and criticism in themagazine, The Southern Literary Messenger soon attracted attention, and helooked for wider opportunities, not a good choice. From 1837 to 1839 he tried mercenary(a) writing in New York City and Philadelphia but earned precise little.Again he tried editing. His work was praised, but he was relieve paid little. Hisefforts to organize his own magazine were unsuccessful. For the next two yearshe turned again to free-lance writing.