Edgar Allan Poe The life of A Genius that was misunderstood Edgar Allen Poe is a name synonymous with horror stories. In popular culture he is imaged with a black ominous Raven on his arm, while the slight smirk on his face could be an indication of a secret he knows which we don't. His influence ranges beyond just appearing in a few episodes of "The Simpsons" and being the inspiration for the name of a football team. The story of his life is almost as interesting as his own poems and works of fiction. How many broken hearts did he leave behind? Has science been able to prove the cause of his mysterious death? Who is the stealthy hooded man who left a bottle of Cognac and three roses at his grave for seventy-five years? The mysteries of Poe's own life have fueled the persona surrounding his character. Discover old letters that were exchanged between him and his friends, letters he wrote to the women who loved him, and the circumstances of his own death. Deduce for yourself whether the literary genius that is celebrated the world over was by a madman or just an ordinary man of letters who was trying to make a living.