Review: Edgar Allan Poe: A Life From Beginning to End by Hourly History

Title: Edgar Allan Poe: A Life From Beginning to End
Author: Hourly History
Publication: July 31st 2018
Genre: Nonfiction, History
Purchase Link: Amazon
Rating: 3/5★

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.

I love Edgar Allan's Poe's work. His stories and poems are some of my favorite writing ever. I always jump at the chance to read more about his life because it's pretty interesting to learn more about where an author comes from and his backstory. I already knew most of the things mentioned in this short book but it was still a pretty good as well as a fast read. It can easily be read in one sitting.

Edgar Allan Poe certainly was an enigmatic person from what I know from his life. He married his cousin when she was only 13 and he was 27 so that was pretty problematic (although it was a different time back then) to say the least but you have to admire his talent and drive to make the publishing world better and to have authors earn more for their hard work.

Whether you like or dislike his writing without Edgar Allan Poe the horror and detective genre wouldn't be what it was today as many authors of these genres were inspired by him and his work. My personal favorite short story of his is The Fall of the House of Usher. I just love this creepy story so much. As for his poetry I'm a big fan of Annabel Lee and of course The Raven.

5 interesting facts I learned:

• Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (the creator of the character of Sherlock Holmes) was inspired by Poe's work
• Poe wrote poetry, hundreds of essays, a novel, short stories, a book of scientific theory, a textbook and hundreds of book reviews in his lifetime.
• Poe has been called the Master of Macabre, the Father of the Detective Story and a pioneer of science fiction
• Poe was fascinated by the writings of British poet Lord Byron
• Poe fathered the modern-day detective story back in his time.

Some pictures related to Poe:

Daguerreotype of Edgar Allan Poe, known as the "Annie" (late May to early June 1849)

Signature of Edgar Allan Poe.

This plaque in Boston marks the approximate location where Poe was born.

Illustration by French impressionist Édouard Manet for the Stéphane Mallarmé translation of "The Raven", 1875. 

Check out my other Hourly History reviews:

The Black Death: A History From Beginning To End

Mayan Civilization: A History From Beginning To End

Vlad the Impaler: A Life From Beginning To End

Leonardo da Vinci: A Life From Beginning To End

Napoleon: A Life From Beginning To End

Titanic: The Story of the Unsinkable Ship

Caligula: A Life From Beginning To End

King Arthur: A Life From Beginning To End

Byzantine Empire: A History From Beginning To End

The Great Pyramid of Giza: A History From Beginning To Present

The Dutch East India Company: A History From Beginning to End

More Hourly History reviews to come soon!

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What is your favorite Edgar Allan Poe story or poem? Share your thoughts!