Happy Birthday, Edgar Allan Poe!

Edgar Allan Poe's birthday was January 19, 1809. He would be 205 if he were a vampire! He died on October 7, 1849 when sadly, he was just 40 years old, only 5 years older than I am now. Poe was born in Boston. I actually didn't know that until today or I just didn't remember.

Ok, just before I carry on about Poe, because I am obsessed with him, I want this!

I knew he was adopted by a Maryland Family and Allan was not his middle name, but in fact his last name he took on as a part of his adopted family, the Allans. Poe was his birth name. They never formally adopted him, but they cared for him until he was an adult after he was abandoned by his father and his mother subsequently died.

 

A recent theory in his cause of death was actually rabies. It is believed that he abstained from alcohol for about 6 months before his death and as we all know he enjoyed his absinthe and not a little bit of Opium, but a lot bit of Opium. 

You can watch The Black Cat, an Edgar Allan Poe short story as a bit less than a one hour short film done by Stuart Gordon on Master's of Horror for free on Hulu below.  

Then, if and when you so feel inclined, there is a Biography special (about 45 minutes long) outlining the life and important aspects therein of Edgar Allan Poe that you can check out here. 

You can rent The Raven, the one with John Cusack portraying Poe on Google Play here as well as on Netflix here. 

You can download these games for an hour of free game-play, too, if you feel so inclined!