Happy 200th Birthday, Edgar Allan Poe!
Edgar Allan Poe turns 200 today, so Haute Macabre would like to wish this icon a very Haute Bicentennial. Poe was born Edgar Poe in 1809, and was soon after abandoned by his father and orphaned by his mother. The Allan family took him in, and gave him his middle name. After the estrangement of his foster father, he enlisted in the military , where he began publishing his first collections of poetry. After discharge from the military, he secretly married his 13 year old cousin, Virginia Clemm. His wife died of consumption in 1847, and it is theorized that his macabre “death of a beautiful woman” works after that event were a direct result of his loss.
Poe’s death is a great mystery to scholars. On October 5, 1849, he was found delirious on the streets of Baltimore, oddly enough, wearing someone else’s clothing. He never regained consciousness enough to explain his situation, and died on October 7. All hospital and medical records of the event have been either lost or destroyed, but speculation points to either delirium tremens, heart disease, epilepsy, syphilis, meningeal inflammation, cholera, rabies, or alcoholism.
I’m under the assumption that we all have our trusty copies of his complete works, but in celebration I might treat myself to a copy of the Gris Grimly illustrated Tales of Mystery & Madness or the upcoming Tales of Death & Dementia.
Selected Works Handbag † Nevermore Tee † B&W Necklace
Wreath Tank † Raven Pendant † Nevermore Hoodie
Raven Locket † Poe T Shirt † Golden Beetle Insectus Ring
January 19th, 2009 at 5:40 PM
I’m particularly fond of the theory that Poe was used as a repeat voter by some hooligans and died as a result of the severe beatings and drunkenness that accompanied such activities.
It’s also worth mentioning the bottle of port and single rose that are left on his grave in my hometown of Baltimore on this day every year! The local news covers it very charmingly every time, too!
January 19th, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Happy B-day Edgar, truly a man who has taught and inspired me in ways only his sweet macabre flow of poetry could.
[note to self] purchase nevermore hoodie with next paycheck.
January 20th, 2009 at 11:26 AM
I have Edgar Allen Poe’s full works. I find them quite humorous. I can’t believe it’s been 200 years since he was born, that’s mental.
January 20th, 2009 at 5:04 PM
Oh Virginia loves Edgar (as in the state). Since people on my LJ mentioned it reminded me that there’s a Poe museum in Richmond. I believe the next rainy weekend or even a sunny one, I’ll pay the place a visit.