Page 66 - Red Feather Book 1

In 1829 he published “Al Aaraaf, and Minor Poems”, it has been said this was not his best work, not even Poe liked the quality of his work.
He enrolled in the United States Military Academy at West Point. By this time, his relationship with John Allan had deteriorated and he refused to support him. It is thought that Poe broke the rules on purpose so he would be dismissed. Soon thereafter John Allan died, not leaving Edgar anything in his will.
In 1835 he got a job as a newspaper editor and the next year he married his thirteen year old cousin Virginia Clemm.
He moved to New York with his new wife and mother-in-law in 1837 and later to Philadelphia. The next year, he wrote his first novel “The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym”.
Poe later worked as an editor at Graham’s Magazine, where he published his short story “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”. This is especially important as such work is considered the first detective story.
In December 1842 Virginia is diagnosed with tuberculosis and dies five years later. This affects Poe greatly and worsens his alcoholism.
In the summer of 1849 Poe returned to Richmond and made a big effort to stop drinking by joining an organization named “The Sons of Temperance”, they were part of a social movement urging the reduction of use of alcoholic beverages.
He also tried to reconnect with Sarah Elmira Royster. They became engaged and planned to get married soon. Poe never received a second opportunity; as he died in Baltimore on October 1849 under mysterious circumstances.
The Red Feather 63 Literature Second Course