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Death of a Genius: The unsolved case of Edgar Allan Poe

"Unraveling the clues and theories surrounding the death of the literary legend"

By Arun LalPublished about a year ago 4 min read
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The death of Edgar Allan Poe, an American poet and author, remains one of the most mysterious and unresolved cases in literary history. Poe died in 1849 under mysterious circumstances, with the cause of his death listed as "congestion of the brain." The exact cause of his death, however, remains unknown, and many theories have been put forward to explain the events of that day. Poe's death has been the subject of much speculation and debate, and it continues to be a topic of interest among literary enthusiasts and Poe scholars.

Edgar Allan Poe was an American poet, short-story writer, and literary critic, born in 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts. Poe's parents were both actors and his father died when Poe was a child, leaving his family in financial hardship. Poe's mother also passed away when he was young and he was taken in by the Allan family, who gave him his middle name. Poe attended the University of Virginia but dropped out due to financial difficulties.

Poe began his career as a writer in 1827, publishing several poems and short stories in various literary magazines. He quickly gained a reputation as a master of the macabre and his works were known for their dark, atmospheric settings and themes of death, loss and the supernatural. Poe's literary works include "The Raven," "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Fall of the House of Usher." He also wrote crime fiction, including his detective story "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" which is considered the first detective story in literature. Poe's early life was marked by many struggles, including financial difficulties and the loss of his parents and wife. Despite his personal struggles, he managed to make a significant impact on American literature and his works continue to be widely read and studied today.

The passing of Edgar Allan Poe remains one of the most enigmatic and unresolved cases in the annals of literature. On October 7, 1849, at the age of 40, Poe met his untimely demise. The exact details surrounding his death are hazy. Poe was discovered in a state of frenzy on the streets of Baltimore, Maryland, donning unfamiliar clothes and suffering from severe disorientation. He was taken to a hospital where he expired four days later. The official cause of death was recorded as "congestion of the brain", however, the true cause of his death remains a mystery to this day.

. Poe's death has been the subject of much speculation and debate, and continues to be a subject of interest among literary enthusiasts and Poe scholars. Poe's death, much like his literary works, is shrouded in mystery, and remains one of the great unsolved mysteries of American literature.

The death of Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most mysterious and unresolved cases in literary history, and there are few concrete evidences and clues that can shed light on the events leading to his death.

  • Poe was found in a state of delirium on the streets of Baltimore, Maryland, wearing someone else's clothes and in a state of severe disorientation.
  • Poe was taken to a hospital where he died four days later. The cause of his death was listed as "congestion of the brain".
  • Poe had a history of alcoholism and it is believed that he may have died from alcohol-related causes.
  • Poe had a history of tuberculosis, which some believe could have led to his death.
  • Poe's death certificate doesn't give any detail about his death. Poe's body was buried in an unmarked grave, which makes it hard to study his remains for clues.

There are several theories that have been put forward to explain the events leading to the death of Edgar Allan Poe. Here are a few of the most popular theories:

  • Alcoholism: Poe had a history of alcoholism and it is believed that he may have died from alcohol-related causes such as delirium tremens (DTs) or liver failure.
  • Tuberculosis: Poe had a history of tuberculosis, which some believe could have led to his death.
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning: Some theories propose that Poe may have died from inhaling carbon monoxide while working in a poorly ventilated area.
  • Murder: Some theories propose that Poe may have been murdered, although there is no concrete evidence to support this theory.
  • Other illnesses: Some theories propose that Poe may have died from other illnesses such as pneumonia or meningitis, but there is no concrete evidence to support these theories.
  • Cooping: Poe may have died from a practice called "cooping", where individuals were kidnapped, drugged and forced to vote multiple times in local elections.
  • Despite the numerous theories and speculations surrounding Edgar Allan Poe's death, the true cause remains a mystery. The lack of concrete evidence and conflicting accounts of the events leading to his death, has resulted in much speculation and debate. Even though it happened over 170 years ago, the death of Poe continues to capture the imagination of literary enthusiasts, Poe scholars and the general public. The enigma surrounding his death adds to the intrigue of his legacy, much like his literary works, Poe's death remains an unsolved mystery, shrouded in an eerie and mysterious veil.

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Arun Lal

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