Writer · 1809 – 1849

Edgar Allan Poe

Little-Known Facts

America's top mystery-writing awards, the Edgars, are named after him.
His mysterious death in Baltimore at 40 has never been fully explained.

Myths & Misconceptions

Did Poe really invent the detective story?

Yes — his tales featuring the detective C. Auguste Dupin, beginning with 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue', established the template that later writers like Conan Doyle followed.