Edgar Allen Poe - His own story!

This most famous author, well-known for his short fiction, came from tragic beginning. He was born in Boston on January 19, 1809. His parents were David Poe Jr. and Elizabeth Arnold Hopkins who were touring actors. Both of his parents died before he was 3 years old. Edgar Poe was taken into the home of John Allen, a prosperous merchant in Richmond and subsequently baptized Edgar Allen Poe. He studied (1815-20) for 5 years in England between 1815 and 1820. In 1826 he returned to America and entered the University of Virginia but stayed for only a year. He started to write works of fiction. In 1841 he wrote The Murders in the Rue Morgue which is sometimes considered to be the first detective story. Edgar Allan Poe died in Baltimore on October 7th 1849 of "congestion of the brain."

Edgar Allen Poe - the Movies!

Many of the Edgar Allan Poe Horror Stories have been immortalised in famous Horror Movies. Edgar Allen Poe is still acknowledged as being the godfather of modern day horror fiction. His Horror stories and Tales continue to inspire horror directors from all over the world. The earliest horror films were based on characters from early folklore, such as vampires, werewolves and monsters - many of which are prominent in the books written by this celebrated, famous author. Bela Lugosi, Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and Basil Rathbone all starred in Horror movies by Poe. Some of these Horror Movies are mentioned below;

• The Black Cat (1934) Directed by Edgar G. Ulmer starring the famed Universal horror actors Bela Lugosi ("Dracula fame") and Boris Karloff ("Frankenstein fame")

• The Raven Horror Movie (1935) Directed by Lew Landers starring Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi

• The Pit and the Pendulum (1990) Directed by Stuart Gordon starring Lance Henriksen and Stephen Lee

• Masque of the Red Death (1964) starring Roger Corman and Vincent Price

• The Pit and the Pendulum (1961) starring Vincent Price