His own sepulchral pale and dark-haired appearance only added to the air of the gothic around him in an age where photographs were starting to become popular. Image credit: Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commonsĭuring the last 4 years of his life however, he was a celebrity in the United States and beyond, and was known by many as “the Raven” in honour of the poem. After a youth dominated by rebelliousness, poverty and alcoholism, he married his 13 year old cousin Virginia Clemm in 1836, and died 13 years later at the age of 40.ĭespite the lasting and immediate fame that The Raven brought him, he was one of the first western writers to try and make a living out of their literary works alone, and lived a life of destitution for the most part as a result. Poe’s own short, violent and unhappy life adds to the intrigue that surrounds him. The poem catapulted him to national fame with its melancholic portrayal of lost love and stands out as a masterpiece that has become emblematic of the genre.

The Raven, a poem first published by Poe in January 1845, quickly gained immense popularity due to its unique mood and tight rhyming pattern, making it highly imitated. One of the most prominent and influential figures in this genre is Edgar Allan Poe, whose works have left an indelible mark on gothic literature. Gothic literature has its roots in the 18th century and is a genre characterised by dark, mysterious, supernatural elements, often set in eerie locations such as castles, mansions, and isolated landscapes.

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe