Who Was Edgar Allan Poe?

Part of Who Was?

Illustrated by Tim Foley
Look inside
$6.99 US
Penguin Young Readers | Penguin Workshop
72 per carton
On sale Aug 11, 2015 | 9780448483115
Age 8-12 years
Reading Level: Lexile 870L | Fountas & Pinnell X
Sales rights: World
Filled with broken hearts and black ravens, Edgar Allan Poe’s ghastly tales have delighted readers for centuries. Born in Boston in 1809, Poe was orphaned at age two. He was soon adopted by a Virginia family who worked as tombstone merchants. In 1827 he enlisted in the Army and subsequently failed out of West Point. His first published story, The Raven, was a huge success, but his joy was overshadowed by the death of his wife. Poe devoted his life to writing and his tragic life often inspired his work. He is considered to be the inventor of detective fiction and the father of American mystery writers. His work continues to influence popular culture through films, music, literature, and television.

Who Was
Edgar Allan Poe?

Edgar Allan Poe walked briskly down a New York City street one winter day early in 1845. A young boy spotted the famous writer. Soon another boy noticed him, too. And then another. One of the boys took a stick and hit Edgar on his heel. “Caw! Caw!” the other children shrieked, flapping their arms like birds.

About

Filled with broken hearts and black ravens, Edgar Allan Poe’s ghastly tales have delighted readers for centuries. Born in Boston in 1809, Poe was orphaned at age two. He was soon adopted by a Virginia family who worked as tombstone merchants. In 1827 he enlisted in the Army and subsequently failed out of West Point. His first published story, The Raven, was a huge success, but his joy was overshadowed by the death of his wife. Poe devoted his life to writing and his tragic life often inspired his work. He is considered to be the inventor of detective fiction and the father of American mystery writers. His work continues to influence popular culture through films, music, literature, and television.

Excerpt

Who Was
Edgar Allan Poe?

Edgar Allan Poe walked briskly down a New York City street one winter day early in 1845. A young boy spotted the famous writer. Soon another boy noticed him, too. And then another. One of the boys took a stick and hit Edgar on his heel. “Caw! Caw!” the other children shrieked, flapping their arms like birds.