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Edgar Allan Poe: A Life from Beginning to End
Edgar Allan Poe * * *Download for FREE on Kindle Unlimited + Free BONUS Inside!* * * Read On Your Computer, MAC, Smartphone, Kindle Reader, iPad, or Tablet. What would literature be without the works of Edgar Allan Poe? Would we have the detective story, as was created by this master of the art of deductive reasoning? How would the horror genre have turned out? Inside you will read about... ✓ The Poe Family and the Allan Family ✓ Poe Joins the Military ✓ Poor and Disowned ✓ Writing Career and Famous Works ✓ Poe’s Mysterious Death And much more! Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most influential literary figures of all time. He did a lot to change the way people viewed writers and their value. This book dives into the life of this well-known poet and author and explores all the ways he impacted the literary world, both in his own time and up to date. Start reading and be transported back to the nineteenth century to learn about one of the most well-known American writers of all time. Series Biographies of American Authors Book 3
94 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2018
251 people are currently reading
331 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
February 28, 2022
Me encantan los relatos de Poe. Cada cierto tiempo releo algo escrito por él, aunque nunca me he sentido angustiado por ninguno de sus relatos, por muy macabros que sean. Pero están muy bien escritos, y te atrapan desde la primera palabra. “La máscara de la muerte roja” la leí siendo muy pequeño, y siempre me acordaré de esa primera lectura de este autor. Tanto, que es la única que nunca he querido volver a leer. El resto las he leído y releído hasta la saciedad.
Esta pequeña biografía se centra más en la propia obra de Poe, analizando algunos pasajes famosos. De la vida de Poe no descubre gran cosa, excepto que su extraña muerte sigue siendo un misterio, y que su supuesta adicción al alcohol y a las drogas se basa más en lo que escribió sobre él un contemporáneo, a quien el autor denostó en vida, y este, como la venganza es un plato que se sirve frío, aprovechó su temprano fallecimiento para dejar su figura por los suelos. Esa “supuesta” biografía ha perdurado hasta nuestros días. Interesante.
Esta pequeña biografía se centra más en la propia obra de Poe, analizando algunos pasajes famosos. De la vida de Poe no descubre gran cosa, excepto que su extraña muerte sigue siendo un misterio, y que su supuesta adicción al alcohol y a las drogas se basa más en lo que escribió sobre él un contemporáneo, a quien el autor denostó en vida, y este, como la venganza es un plato que se sirve frío, aprovechó su temprano fallecimiento para dejar su figura por los suelos. Esa “supuesta” biografía ha perdurado hasta nuestros días. Interesante.
November 29, 2022
misrepresented to the present day
Here’s another author who made very little off his writings during his lifetime, became more famous after his death, and who was misrepresented as a wild, creepy, crazy man while he was alive, a calculated misrepresentation by a man named Griswold that has been carried forward into the present.
His best known works are discussed and his short life of 40 years examined.
Clearly laid out, well-written, well researched.
Here’s another author who made very little off his writings during his lifetime, became more famous after his death, and who was misrepresented as a wild, creepy, crazy man while he was alive, a calculated misrepresentation by a man named Griswold that has been carried forward into the present.
His best known works are discussed and his short life of 40 years examined.
Clearly laid out, well-written, well researched.
April 4, 2023
I'm not even a horror or.mystery fan but come on.. Its POE. He's timeless. Such a sad life though.
January 15, 2021
Troubled.
This is disturbing on multiple levels. First Poe is credited with being influential in the writing world. I started feeling sorry for him, believing he was abused. However, while he did not have financial success. He was and will forever be a pedophile. HH does not address his pedophilia. Second: He had a rough, abusive childhood, perhaps that is why he jumped from city to city, and job after job. Peter Pan Syndrome. HH also does not address why none of his homes are still standing. There had to be a reason for HH bringing it up. Finally, the author spent too much space describing at least three of Poe's writings.
The pedophilia is bothersome for me. I would fight to have his work addressed as such. He is not a hero.
This is disturbing on multiple levels. First Poe is credited with being influential in the writing world. I started feeling sorry for him, believing he was abused. However, while he did not have financial success. He was and will forever be a pedophile. HH does not address his pedophilia. Second: He had a rough, abusive childhood, perhaps that is why he jumped from city to city, and job after job. Peter Pan Syndrome. HH also does not address why none of his homes are still standing. There had to be a reason for HH bringing it up. Finally, the author spent too much space describing at least three of Poe's writings.
The pedophilia is bothersome for me. I would fight to have his work addressed as such. He is not a hero.
January 14, 2022
This is a short read, like all Hourly History ebooks. This does give a pretty good overview of Edgar Allan Poe's life. I do feel horribly bad for the trauma that created so many ACEs in his life. Something I found very disturbing is how he married his 1st cousin, she was so young.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2021
Intreging
I'm in the 7th grade and here is how I feel about the book.
I felt as if the book was really good I absolutely love the fact they read books with interesting stories inside of a book with an interesting story.
Its amazing how much creativity went into this book I would have never thought of make something like this and it inspires me to continue chasing my dreams. Also Edgar Allan Poe I remember him become very scared and someone died and someone read a book to him to calm him down by reading a book. In the story he the narorrator killed people and a crack split the home in half and it sunk in the ground .
I'm in the 7th grade and here is how I feel about the book.
I felt as if the book was really good I absolutely love the fact they read books with interesting stories inside of a book with an interesting story.
Its amazing how much creativity went into this book I would have never thought of make something like this and it inspires me to continue chasing my dreams. Also Edgar Allan Poe I remember him become very scared and someone died and someone read a book to him to calm him down by reading a book. In the story he the narorrator killed people and a crack split the home in half and it sunk in the ground .
September 7, 2021
A great biography
This book is a great start to know about this literary genius
a tragic life to be sure
but brings understanding to the scope of Poe's work
This book is a great start to know about this literary genius
a tragic life to be sure
but brings understanding to the scope of Poe's work
November 29, 2025
Rated—G (my personal opinion based on content)
January 13, 2019
Edgar Allan Poe is one of my favorite authors. I have been reading and re-reading his work since I was a pretty young child. His works age well because as I got older the works became more nuanced and thus more meaningful.
In this read-it-in-an-hour-or-less biography, I learned new things about Poe that are not part of the general narrative. First and foremost, he was not a drug addict; he did drink to excess at times, but drugs were not his weakness. I was also unaware that Poe served in the Army, left, and was admitted to West Point. He made rank in the Army but didn't complete his enlistment, and he engineered his dismissal from of West Point after only eight months. These revelations add to the complexity of his life.
Poe wanted to be a full-time writer. He did not consider writing as a pastime in which to indulge alongside some other career. He worked at being a writer but earned hardly enough to keep body and soul together. During his short 40-year life, he edited several magazines, wrote critical reviews, and pretty much perfected the art of the short story. One of the hindrances to writing as a career was the lack of international copyright law. Because of this, American periodicals took the works of authors outside the US and published them without having to pay for them.
Poe is creator of the modern detective story, predating even Conan Doyle. A good synopsis of “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” is given, along with several other short stories, and, of course, "The Raven."
If you read, or have read, the works of Edgar Allan Poe you will surely find this short, fascinating biography very interesting.
In this read-it-in-an-hour-or-less biography, I learned new things about Poe that are not part of the general narrative. First and foremost, he was not a drug addict; he did drink to excess at times, but drugs were not his weakness. I was also unaware that Poe served in the Army, left, and was admitted to West Point. He made rank in the Army but didn't complete his enlistment, and he engineered his dismissal from of West Point after only eight months. These revelations add to the complexity of his life.
Poe wanted to be a full-time writer. He did not consider writing as a pastime in which to indulge alongside some other career. He worked at being a writer but earned hardly enough to keep body and soul together. During his short 40-year life, he edited several magazines, wrote critical reviews, and pretty much perfected the art of the short story. One of the hindrances to writing as a career was the lack of international copyright law. Because of this, American periodicals took the works of authors outside the US and published them without having to pay for them.
Poe is creator of the modern detective story, predating even Conan Doyle. A good synopsis of “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” is given, along with several other short stories, and, of course, "The Raven."
If you read, or have read, the works of Edgar Allan Poe you will surely find this short, fascinating biography very interesting.
December 22, 2024
"Κι ό,τι αγαπούσα, μόνος το αγαπούσα"
Θεωρείται, και όχι άδικα, ο καινοτόμος συγγραφέας του αστυνομικού διηγήματος όπου ο ντετέκτιβ προσπαθεί να λύσει την υπόθεση χρησιμοποιώντας τη λογική και τον απαγωγικό συλλογισμό.
Το βιβλίο καλύπτει πολλές λεπτομέρειες της ζωής του Edgar Allan Poe, τα δύσκολα νεανικά του χρόνια, τις απώλειες που υπέστη, καθώς επίσης εξηγεί τι αφορούσαν μερικά από τα πιο διάσημα γραπτά του.
Θεωρείται, και όχι άδικα, ο καινοτόμος συγγραφέας του αστυνομικού διηγήματος όπου ο ντετέκτιβ προσπαθεί να λύσει την υπόθεση χρησιμοποιώντας τη λογική και τον απαγωγικό συλλογισμό.
Το βιβλίο καλύπτει πολλές λεπτομέρειες της ζωής του Edgar Allan Poe, τα δύσκολα νεανικά του χρόνια, τις απώλειες που υπέστη, καθώς επίσης εξηγεί τι αφορούσαν μερικά από τα πιο διάσημα γραπτά του.
September 8, 2021
Repeat after Me
Edgar Allan Poe: A Life from Beginning to End
I have read other Hourly Biographies and enjoyed them. Edgar Allan Poe’s misses the mark of engaging my curiosity. The more interesting part of the biography is the relationship between Poe and his foster father, John Allan. The revenge of Griswold I thought is another point of interest in the bio. All and all, the piece reads more like an essay with its long retelling of some of Poe’s works. The bio does hit areas of a biography: birth and death, education, accomplishments, and family, but they are overshadowed by the repetition and summary of Poe’s famous works. Poe’s hourly biography needs more on the author’s life. I don’t recommend this biography.
Edgar Allan Poe: A Life from Beginning to End
I have read other Hourly Biographies and enjoyed them. Edgar Allan Poe’s misses the mark of engaging my curiosity. The more interesting part of the biography is the relationship between Poe and his foster father, John Allan. The revenge of Griswold I thought is another point of interest in the bio. All and all, the piece reads more like an essay with its long retelling of some of Poe’s works. The bio does hit areas of a biography: birth and death, education, accomplishments, and family, but they are overshadowed by the repetition and summary of Poe’s famous works. Poe’s hourly biography needs more on the author’s life. I don’t recommend this biography.
October 13, 2018
Who wrote this drivel???
Well, I have to give credit to the teen who wrote this essay. You get E for effort from me, although it was choppy, poorly written and poorly edited. If you wanna know about Poe, download a longer book. Skip this "essay".
Well, I have to give credit to the teen who wrote this essay. You get E for effort from me, although it was choppy, poorly written and poorly edited. If you wanna know about Poe, download a longer book. Skip this "essay".
August 12, 2019
Like most people, I read a couple of Poe's works in high school and I knew of his reputation as Master of the Macabre. Other than that, I didn't know anything about his actual life and I don't believe I ever knew that he died so young.
One of the things that I found interesting is that he is considered the actual innovator of his writing styles - the short story and the modern detective story whereby the detective solves the case using logic and deductive reasoning.
This condensed book also covers a lot of other details of his life- his difficult younger years, the losses that he suffered, and it also explains what a couple of his more famous writings were about. I believe that the book could encourage some people who've never read any of work to check them out. I would have given it 5 stars if it were not for some repetitive phrases and grammatical errors, but I did enjoy reading it.
One of the things that I found interesting is that he is considered the actual innovator of his writing styles - the short story and the modern detective story whereby the detective solves the case using logic and deductive reasoning.
This condensed book also covers a lot of other details of his life- his difficult younger years, the losses that he suffered, and it also explains what a couple of his more famous writings were about. I believe that the book could encourage some people who've never read any of work to check them out. I would have given it 5 stars if it were not for some repetitive phrases and grammatical errors, but I did enjoy reading it.
October 22, 2019
It is difficult to believe that a man who died at 40-years-of-age could have had such a strong influence on literature today. I was surprised to see that Poe spent time in the military and even went to West Point. He had a tremendous number of reverses in his short life and that may have made him able to delve into the psychology of life unlike any author before him.
The book makes an excellent point about Poe creating the modern detective story with "The Murders in the Rue Morgue." However, I came away from reading this book wondering how Poe created such unique terror in his stories in the horror genre. I wish the book had offered some insight into that. The reason I gave the book a '4' rating is related to the repetitions in the story. Otherwise, the information offered was interesting and thought-provoking.
The book makes an excellent point about Poe creating the modern detective story with "The Murders in the Rue Morgue." However, I came away from reading this book wondering how Poe created such unique terror in his stories in the horror genre. I wish the book had offered some insight into that. The reason I gave the book a '4' rating is related to the repetitions in the story. Otherwise, the information offered was interesting and thought-provoking.
November 12, 2020
I happen to like Poe's works. There was even an episode of Warehouse 13 that dealt with Poe. There were a couple of things that surprised me in this book, though, one being how young he was when he died. (40). The other was the fact that he married his first cousin and not only that but she was only 13 at the time and Poe was over twice her age.
Genetics doesn't like people with that close a genetic relationship getting married and having children but for some reason that didn't concern Poe.
The book goes into how he got into writing, how he did book reviews and just how little he was paid for his works. It also points out that there are many questions about just how he died (one article online saying that there are as many as nine different theories about his death.)
The book discusses deductive reasoning and how this is related to the modern detective story and Poe.
Genetics doesn't like people with that close a genetic relationship getting married and having children but for some reason that didn't concern Poe.
The book goes into how he got into writing, how he did book reviews and just how little he was paid for his works. It also points out that there are many questions about just how he died (one article online saying that there are as many as nine different theories about his death.)
The book discusses deductive reasoning and how this is related to the modern detective story and Poe.
October 17, 2024
Easy read
Yes, this is a quick read. This would be a good fit for middle-school readers. As an English teacher, I found the sentence structure to be simple and repetitive. I think there is some confusion in what makes writing straightforward. Writing that is straightforward is clear and communicates efficiently. It is not overly complex and avoids repetitive sentence structures. It avoids trite phrases and cliches.
This book is written simplistically and repeats facts several times. It is best suited for middle school readers or someone completely unfamiliar with Poe.
The author does get a fact wrong in the beginning when she states there are no homes where Poe lived still standing. The house in Baltimore at 3 Amity Street is still standing.
Yes, this is a quick read. This would be a good fit for middle-school readers. As an English teacher, I found the sentence structure to be simple and repetitive. I think there is some confusion in what makes writing straightforward. Writing that is straightforward is clear and communicates efficiently. It is not overly complex and avoids repetitive sentence structures. It avoids trite phrases and cliches.
This book is written simplistically and repeats facts several times. It is best suited for middle school readers or someone completely unfamiliar with Poe.
The author does get a fact wrong in the beginning when she states there are no homes where Poe lived still standing. The house in Baltimore at 3 Amity Street is still standing.
June 16, 2019
It is true that almost all Americans have heard of Edgar Allen Poe. It is also true that most students at some time had to read "The Raven" and "The Tell Tale Heart." But until reading this short biography I knew nothing about Edgar Allen Poe's life and now after reading it I feel I know the basics. He had a hard life, losing his parents as a toddler, raised by a cold foster father, living in poverty, being excluded from his foster father's will. And then Edgar Allen's death is very strange and mysterious. He died at the age of 40 and I was left wondering what more literary works he would have left as his legacy if his life hadn't been cut short. Worth the read.
March 19, 2019
Poe was famous for his poetry, short stories, mysteries, and he was the first author to write detective stories. The World is still intrigued with his writings. Edgar was a middle child between a brother and a sister. His parents died when he was very young.
When Edgar was about four years old he was adopted by the Allan family. After that he was baptized in the church, his name changed to Edgar Allan Poe.
Poe earned some notoriety while he was still alive but that increased about one and 1\2 years after his death. Poe died at the age of 40. His death is still a mystery today, he was found in the streets of Baltimore. This is an interesting book, I recommend to others.
When Edgar was about four years old he was adopted by the Allan family. After that he was baptized in the church, his name changed to Edgar Allan Poe.
Poe earned some notoriety while he was still alive but that increased about one and 1\2 years after his death. Poe died at the age of 40. His death is still a mystery today, he was found in the streets of Baltimore. This is an interesting book, I recommend to others.
April 10, 2021
Yes, he is famous. If not you'd not be looking at this--I know I wouldn't.
I've read several "The Life of . . ." books and I'm beginning to think the hardships of life while growing up might be am important element in their success because it equipped them be successful in their journey.
Thanks for a good read.
I've read several "The Life of . . ." books and I'm beginning to think the hardships of life while growing up might be am important element in their success because it equipped them be successful in their journey.
Thanks for a good read.
June 29, 2021
Poe May Have Had A Short Life but His Works Are Immortal
I greatly enjoyed reading this short biography of the Life and Works of Edgar Allan Poe. I was unaware of his great influence upon writers that continues even to this day. He basically established the modern Horror Story and created the Detective Genre. After reading this book, I will obtain some of his short stories.
I greatly enjoyed reading this short biography of the Life and Works of Edgar Allan Poe. I was unaware of his great influence upon writers that continues even to this day. He basically established the modern Horror Story and created the Detective Genre. After reading this book, I will obtain some of his short stories.
January 14, 2023
Too short... the narrative was simplistic and repeative. The bio does hit areas of a biography: birth and death, education, accomplishments, and family, but they are overshadowed by the repetition and summary of Poe’s famous works. Poe’s hourly biography needs more on the author’s life. I don’t recommend this biography.
September 19, 2024
Informative
This was an informative biography on one of my favorite authors. I read a few works of Poe in school and even taught it in a 9th grade English class. I've even had the privilege to visit the Poe Cottage. While I definitely learned more about Poe from this biography, I felt more like a very long school report written by a teenager and was repetitive at times.
This was an informative biography on one of my favorite authors. I read a few works of Poe in school and even taught it in a 9th grade English class. I've even had the privilege to visit the Poe Cottage. While I definitely learned more about Poe from this biography, I felt more like a very long school report written by a teenager and was repetitive at times.
May 18, 2019
Short but Informative
This short book takes only 20-30 minutes to read but I learned a lot more about Edgar Allen Poe than I knew before. I love Hourly History! What an easy way to learn a lot of stuff in a short time. If you sign up, you can receive free books every Friday!
This short book takes only 20-30 minutes to read but I learned a lot more about Edgar Allen Poe than I knew before. I love Hourly History! What an easy way to learn a lot of stuff in a short time. If you sign up, you can receive free books every Friday!
May 31, 2020
Not a madman after all. . .
Edgar Allan Poe was a creative and influential writer, who for a very long time was thought to be a drug addicted, madman. As it turns out he was a grieving, poor man, who did on occasion drink a bit more than was healthy.
Edgar Allan Poe was a creative and influential writer, who for a very long time was thought to be a drug addicted, madman. As it turns out he was a grieving, poor man, who did on occasion drink a bit more than was healthy.
November 12, 2020
The best short biography I have ever read. The sad truth about writers during his time that did not get paid royalties, and glad that is no longer the case. Anyone named Elena should read or listen to this book, and everyone else.
December 18, 2021
“The Father of the Detective Story”
It seems that Poe was more rational in his writings than in his existence, wandering from one job to the next, one relationship to the next and highly critical of others. Maybe the acorn didn’t fall that far from the oak.
It seems that Poe was more rational in his writings than in his existence, wandering from one job to the next, one relationship to the next and highly critical of others. Maybe the acorn didn’t fall that far from the oak.
February 12, 2023
Short but good read
Like Poets Poe's life this is a quick read about a s!killed fascinating live that is heartbreaking in every sense . He should have been rich and famous for all his talent.
Like Poets Poe's life this is a quick read about a s!killed fascinating live that is heartbreaking in every sense . He should have been rich and famous for all his talent.
October 26, 2023
Interesting and educational
I would recommend this book if you want to learn the basic, but also a quick insight to the life of Edgar Allan Poe.
It is far from a bed of roses but a mixture of roses and poison ivy.
I would recommend this book if you want to learn the basic, but also a quick insight to the life of Edgar Allan Poe.
It is far from a bed of roses but a mixture of roses and poison ivy.
August 26, 2018
Loved it!
I have always enjoyed Edgar Allan Poe's works! It was wonderful to read about his life! I loved reading this and would definitely read it again!
I have always enjoyed Edgar Allan Poe's works! It was wonderful to read about his life! I loved reading this and would definitely read it again!
October 14, 2019
This is a nice, short biography of Poe. He is a fascinating author and this book chronicled his life nicely.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews