Who is Edgar Allan Poe?

Edgar Allan Poe is often considered to be the father of
the horror or thriller genre.  He wrote extremely suspenseful and dark stories.  Poe is
known for creating eerie and macabre, yet intelligent, literature.  Symbolism and mood
played major roles in his writings; his use of imagery was powerful and was often aided
by his talented use of word choice and description to add to readers'
experience. 

Poe lived a troubled life.  The loss of loved
ones, including his parents (at an early age) and wife, as well as problems with
gambling, drinking, and other issues is assumed to have greatly influenced Poe's writing
style and focus.  He lived a dark life and wrote dark
pieces. 

Eventually, Poe was found in a delirious condition
on the street; he died shortly after.  Modern medical professionals have suggested that
he may have died of rabies.  At any rate, he left behind some of the world's best known
short stories (and poems), as well as great literary legacy.  Some of his best known
works are "The Cask of Amontillado," "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Black Cat, and "The
Masque of the Red Death."