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The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe, book cover

The Black Cat Summary

by Edgar Allan Poe

4.05 Goodreads · 28k ratingsMystery24 pages15-min summary

A man's descent into madness is shown through his increasing cruelty towards his once-loved black cat, leading to a terrible end.

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Synopsis

Covers the whole plot, including the ending.

The unnamed narrator, a man once known for his kindness and love for animals, describes his decline into madness and depravity. His story starts with an ideal early life, where his affection for pets, especially a black cat named Pluto, is central. However, as he becomes an alcoholic, his personality changes, and his love for Pluto turns into violent hatred. In a drunken rage, he seizes Pluto and gouges out one of the cat's eyes. Later, overcome by guilt and a strange spite, he hangs Pluto from a tree. Soon after, his house burns down, leaving him and his wife poor, with the striking image of a giant black cat with a rope around its neck on a surviving wall. One night, in a tavern, he finds another large black cat, very similar to Pluto, except for a white patch on its chest. He brings it home, but soon hates this new cat, especially as the white patch gradually forms the shape of a gallows. His hatred leads to a confrontation with his wife, who tries to protect the cat, causing him to kill her instantly with an axe. He walls her body up in the cellar. When the police investigate the missing wife, the narrator, overly confident, taps on the wall where his wife is hidden. A terrible wail comes from inside, and when the wall is torn down, the police find his wife's corpse, with the black cat sitting on her head, revealing the narrator's crimes.
Difficulty
Medium
Pacing
Fast
Mood
Dark, Macabre, Suspenseful, Psychological
Read it if
You enjoy classic gothic horror, psychological thrillers, or tales of moral decay and guilt.
Skip it if
You are sensitive to animal cruelty or explicit descriptions of violence and murder.

The Black Cat Plot Summary

Covers the whole plot, including the ending.

  1. A Life of Innocence and a Love for Animals

    The unnamed narrator, writing from a prison cell, begins his confession by describing his early life. He was known for his calm and humane nature and, from a young age, loved animals. Many pets returned this love, but his favorite was a large, entirely black cat named Pluto. Pluto was an intelligent and loyal companion, following him everywhere. The narrator's wife, a kind woman, often mentioned the old belief that black cats were witches in disguise, a comment the narrator at first found amusing.

  2. Descent into Alcoholism and Cruelty

    As years passed, the narrator fell into alcoholism. His once gentle nature turned to irritability, and he became more abusive towards his wife and pets. He started to lash out, first verbally, then physically. While his other pets suffered his drunken rages, Pluto, for a time, was spared. However, the narrator's decline eventually included Pluto, marking a key point in his moral breakdown. The affection he once had for the cat was replaced by a morbid perverseness fueled by drink.

  3. The First Act of Violence: Pluto's Eye

    One night, returning home very drunk, the narrator believed Pluto was avoiding him. Seized by a sudden, angry fury, he grabbed the cat. Pluto, frightened, bit his hand. Enraged by this perceived defiance, the narrator took a pen-knife from his pocket and, with deliberate cruelty, gouged out one of the cat's eyes. The act filled him with brief shame and regret when sober, but this feeling was soon replaced by growing perverseness and a desire to do more wrong.

  4. The Ultimate Betrayal: Pluto's Hanging

    Despite initial pangs of remorse and even tears, the narrator's shame quickly turned into a deep sense of perverseness. He knew his actions were sinful, yet this knowledge only strengthened his desire to do evil. One morning, he took Pluto, who had somewhat recovered from his injury, and hung him from a tree branch in the garden. He did this fully understanding the gravity of his crime, stating he hung him 'with tears streaming from my eyes, and with the bitterest remorse at my heart'—yet he still did it. This was the ultimate betrayal of his beloved pet and a complete surrender to his darker impulses.

  5. The Fire and the Feline Image

    On the same night the narrator killed Pluto, his house mysteriously caught fire. The flames destroyed the entire structure, leaving him and his wife with nothing. The only remaining wall was an inner partition. Inspecting the ruins the next day, a crowd gathered around this wall, amazed by a clear impression. To the narrator's horror, etched into the plaster was the giant figure of a cat, with a rope around its neck. He struggled to explain this, finally deciding someone must have thrown Pluto's body through an open window onto the fresh plaster, and the fire had preserved its form.

  6. The Appearance of a New Cat

    Some months after the fire, while at a tavern, the narrator noticed a large black cat sitting on a barrel of gin. The cat was very similar to Pluto in size and color, though it had a distinct, uneven patch of white fur on its chest. Feeling a mix of shame and a faint glimmer of remorse, the narrator took the cat home. His wife immediately liked it, but the narrator soon developed a strong hatred for the creature. Its devotion, which mirrored Pluto's, became a source of deep irritation and dread for him. He could not bring himself to harm it physically due to lingering guilt and a superstitious fear, yet his dislike deepened.

  7. The White Mark's Transformation

    As time passed, the narrator's hate for the new cat grew stronger. He noticed with increasing terror that the white patch of fur on the cat's chest was slowly changing shape. What was once an unclear blotch gradually took the precise and horrifying form of the gallows—the instrument of execution. This transformation was a constant, tormenting reminder of his crime against Pluto and a chilling warning of his own coming doom. The cat's constant presence and this grotesque symbol drove him to the edge of madness, fueling his hatred and fear.

  8. Murder of His Wife

    One day, while going down into the cellar of his new, run-down home with his wife, the new black cat tripped him, sending him tumbling down the stairs. Enraged, the narrator grabbed an axe, intending to strike the cat. His wife, trying to protect the animal, stepped between him and the cat. Blinded by fury and frustration, the narrator redirected the blow, striking his wife directly on the head with the axe. She died instantly, a tragic victim of his uncontrolled rage and the perverseness that had consumed him.

  9. Concealment of the Body

    After killing his wife, the narrator immediately focused on hiding the crime. Driven by a twisted sense of cunning, he decided to wall up her body in the cellar. He carefully removed bricks from a false chimney breast, placed the corpse inside, and then meticulously rebuilt the wall, plastering it over so skillfully that no one would suspect a freshly disturbed surface. He felt a sense of triumph and relief, believing he had successfully avoided detection. The new black cat, which had seen the murder, was nowhere to be found, adding to his temporary sense of security.

  10. Police Investigation and Discovery

    Four days after the murder, police arrived at the narrator's home, alerted by concerned neighbors about his wife's disappearance. The narrator, confident in his concealment, at first acted nonchalant, even cheerful, during their search. As the officers prepared to leave, having found nothing, the narrator, in a moment of perverse arrogance, tapped the very wall where his wife's body was hidden, boasting about the solid construction of his home. From behind the wall, a low, mournful cry, followed by a series of terrible screams, erupted, revealing his secret. The police immediately tore down the wall, discovering his wife's decomposed body, and, to his utter horror, the black cat sitting on her head, its one fiery eye fixed upon him.

The Black Cat Characters

The Narrator

Protagonist/Antagonist

A once gentle man consumed by alcoholism, perverseness, and ultimately, murder.

The unnamed narrator is a complex and deeply flawed character. He begins as a humane and animal-loving individual, but his descent into alcoholism gradually transforms him into a violent and cruel man. He exhibits a profound sense of perverseness, an almost irresistible urge to do wrong precisely because he knows it is wrong. This psychological trait drives his most heinous acts, from gouging out Pluto's eye to hanging him, and finally, to murdering his wife. He is unreliable, attempting to rationalize his actions, yet ultimately confesses, albeit with a twisted sense of self-pity.

Relationships: Pluto (Beloved pet turned victim of his cruelty); The Second Cat (Object of his intense hatred, fear, and ultimate undoing); His Wife (Initially a loving companion, later a victim of his drunken rage)

Pluto

Supporting

The narrator's cherished black cat, who becomes the first victim of his descent into depravity.

Pluto is the narrator's first and most beloved pet, a large, intelligent, and entirely black cat. He is a symbol of the narrator's initial goodness and humanity. His devotion to the narrator highlights the narrator's tragic fall from grace. Pluto's mutilation and subsequent murder by the narrator mark crucial turning points in the narrator's psychological deterioration, serving as the first major acts of violence that foreshadow greater atrocities. He embodies innocence and loyalty, brutally destroyed by human vice.

Relationships: The Narrator (Loyal companion, then victim of his cruelty); His Wife (Also cherished by her)

The Second Cat (Pluto's Apparition)

Supporting

A mysterious black cat, a doppelgänger of Pluto, who acts as an instrument of divine retribution.

This second black cat, found by the narrator in a tavern, is uncannily similar to Pluto, except for a distinct white patch on its breast. It becomes a constant source of torment and dread for the narrator. The cat's relentless following, its missing eye (mirroring Pluto's injury), and especially the transformation of its white mark into the shape of the gallows, make it a powerful symbol of guilt and impending judgment. It acts as a supernatural avenger, a living embodiment of the narrator's conscience and a catalyst for his ultimate exposure.

Relationships: The Narrator (Tormentor and avenger); His Wife (Attached to her, possibly protecting her)

The Narrator's Wife

Supporting

A gentle and superstitious woman, who becomes an innocent victim of her husband's escalating violence.

The narrator's wife is portrayed as a kind and gentle woman, sharing her husband's initial love for animals. She is the voice of reason and compassion in the household, often remarking on the superstition of black cats. As her husband descends into alcoholism, she endures his abuse and attempts to mitigate his violence, particularly towards the second cat. Her attempt to protect the animal ultimately leads to her tragic murder, making her a symbol of innocent suffering at the hands of unbridled evil.

Relationships: The Narrator (Devoted wife, then victim); Pluto (Cherished pet); The Second Cat (Takes a liking to it, tries to protect it)

The Black Cat Themes

The Destructive Power of Alcoholism

Alcoholism is the main cause of the narrator's moral decline. It changes a gentle, humane person into a violent, irrational monster. Poe clearly shows how alcohol destroys empathy, fuels irrational rage, and distorts perception, leading the narrator to commit increasingly terrible acts, from animal cruelty to murder. The narrator directly links his 'fiend intemperance' to his character change and his 'growing hate of all things.'

“But my disease grew upon me—for what disease is like Alcohol!—and at length even Pluto, who was now becoming old, and consequently somewhat peevish—even Pluto began to experience the effects of my ill temper.”
The Narrator

Perverseness and Self-Destruction

Poe explores the dark psychological idea of perverseness, the human urge to do wrong just for the sake of it. The narrator repeatedly admits to doing evil acts precisely because he knows they are evil. This perversity is not just a result of alcoholism but an inherent, destructive impulse within him. It drives him to hang Pluto and, later, to boast about the solid wall hiding his wife, ultimately leading to his own downfall. It is an internal force that pushes him towards self-destruction.

“I hung it because I knew that it had loved me, and because I felt it had given me no reason of offence;—I hung it because I knew that in so doing I was committing a sin—a deadly sin that would so jeopardise my immortal soul as to place it—if such a thing were possible—even beyond the reach of the infinite mercy of the Most Merciful and Most Terrible God.”
The Narrator

Guilt and Retribution

The story strongly illustrates the unavoidable nature of guilt and the idea of divine or karmic justice. After Pluto's murder, the narrator is haunted by the image of the cat, both in the fire-etched wall and in the form of the second black cat. The second cat, with its missing eye and the gallows-shaped white patch, is a constant, tormenting reminder of his crimes. Its final appearance on his wife's body in the cellar wall signifies the unavoidable return of his past deeds to condemn him, suggesting that justice, even if supernatural, will always find its way.

“I had walled the monster up within the tomb!”
The Narrator (ironically, referring to the cat, but it's the cat that reveals his secret)

The Supernatural and the Uncanny

While based in psychological realism, the story subtly introduces supernatural elements, creating an atmosphere of unsettling dread. The unexplained image of Pluto on the wall after the fire, and especially the second cat's sudden appearance, its missing eye, and the strange change of its white mark into a gallows, all suggest a force beyond human understanding at work. These elements increase the sense of coming doom and suggest that the narrator's crimes have disturbed a natural or spiritual order, leading to a supernatural form of justice.

“I was to be haunted by an apparition of the animal which I had so cruelly and so causelessly murdered.”
The Narrator

Plot Devices & Literary Techniques

Unreliable Narrator

The story is told from the perspective of a man whose sanity and objectivity are compromised by alcoholism and perversity.

The narrator confesses his story from a prison cell, claiming he is about to die and wishes to unburden his soul. However, his justifications, his shifting emotional states, and his attempts to rationalize the supernatural events (like the cat's image on the wall) reveal a mind warped by alcohol and guilt. This unreliability forces the reader to question his perceptions and interpretations, adding to the psychological horror and ambiguity of the story.

Symbolism of the Black Cat

The black cat represents innocence, loyalty, and later, supernatural retribution and guilt.

Pluto initially symbolizes the narrator's gentle nature and his capacity for love. His transformation into a victim of cruelty marks the narrator's moral decline. The second black cat, a doppelgänger of Pluto, symbolizes the narrator's inescapable guilt and the supernatural forces of retribution. Its missing eye and the gallows mark are direct visual representations of his crimes and impending doom, functioning as a constant, tormenting reminder of his perversity and ultimate fate.

Foreshadowing

Hints and clues throughout the story predict future tragic events.

Poe uses various instances of foreshadowing. The wife's early remark about black cats being witches subtly hints at the supernatural element that will later emerge. The first act of violence against Pluto (gouging out his eye) foreshadows the narrator's escalating cruelty. Most significantly, the image of the cat with a rope around its neck on the burned wall directly foreshadows the narrator's own eventual execution by hanging, a fate sealed by the second cat's revelation of his final crime.

Irony

Situational and dramatic irony underscore the narrator's self-deception and ultimate downfall.

Irony is prevalent throughout the story. The narrator, who once loved animals, becomes their tormentor and murderer. He attempts to conceal his wife's body with meticulous care, only for his own perverse boastfulness to lead to its discovery. The very creature he hates and fears the most, the second black cat, becomes the instrument of his exposure and eventual death, appearing atop his wife's corpse. This dramatic irony highlights the narrator's inability to escape the consequences of his actions.

The Black Cat Quotes

“I grew, day by day, more moody, more irritable, more regardless of the feelings of others.”
The narrator describes his descent into alcoholism and cruelty.
“Pluto—this was the cat’s name—was my favorite pet and playmate.”
Introducing the first black cat, a beloved companion.
“I knew myself no longer.”
The narrator reflects on how much he has changed due to his addiction.
“I was possessed with a spirit of perverseness.”
Explaining the irrational impulse that drives him to commit violent acts.
“I hung it because I knew that it had loved me, and because I felt it had given me no reason of offence.”
The narrator's chilling justification for hanging Pluto.
“I blush, I burn, I shudder, while I pen the damnable atrocity!”
The narrator expresses a moment of shame while recalling his actions.
“From my infancy I was noted for the docility and humanity of my disposition.”
The narrator contrasts his past gentle nature with his current depravity.
“The fury of a demon instantly possessed me.”
Describing the sudden onset of rage that leads to the murder of his wife.
“I had walled the monster up within the tomb!”
The narrator's realization of having inadvertently trapped the second cat with his wife's body.
“My wife, hearing the screams, rushed to my assistance.”
The immediate prelude to the narrator murdering his wife.
“It was this spirit of perverseness, I say, which urged me on to an even more fatal triumph of crime.”
Reiterating the theme of perverseness as a motivator for further evil.
“The cat uttered a loud, long, and continuous wail, as if in agony or in triumph.”
The cat's cry from within the wall, leading to the discovery of the body.
“Upon its head, with red extended mouth and solitary eye of fire, sat the hideous beast whose craft had seduced me into murder, and whose informing voice had consigned me to the hangman.”
The narrator's final, dramatic description of the cat as his undoing.
“I had not, at first, any intention of murder.”
The narrator's claim about his initial intentions before his rage takes over.

Quiz

10 questions on the plot and the characters. Each answer comes with a short explanation.

  1. Question 1

    What is the name of the narrator's first black cat?

    1. Minerva
    2. Pluto
    3. Charon
    4. Bacchus
    Show answer

    B. Pluto The narrator's first black cat, whom he loved dearly, was named Pluto.

  2. Question 2

    What does the narrator do to Pluto in a fit of drunken rage after Pluto bites him?

    1. He locks Pluto in the cellar.
    2. He sells Pluto to a neighbor.
    3. He gouges out one of Pluto's eyes.
    4. He abandons Pluto in the woods.
    Show answer

    C. He gouges out one of Pluto's eyes. In a moment of extreme cruelty, fueled by alcohol, the narrator uses a pen-knife to gouge out one of Pluto's eyes.

  3. Question 3

    What is the second act of extreme violence the narrator commits against Pluto?

    1. He drowns Pluto in a well.
    2. He hangs Pluto from a tree.
    3. He poisons Pluto's food.
    4. He sets Pluto on fire.
    Show answer

    B. He hangs Pluto from a tree. Despite feeling some remorse, the narrator hangs Pluto from a tree, an act he acknowledges as a 'deadly sin'.

  4. Question 4

    What peculiar mark does the second black cat have on its chest?

    1. A white star.
    2. A missing eye.
    3. A gallows shape.
    4. A lightning bolt.
    Show answer

    C. A gallows shape. Initially, the second cat, named Pluto by the narrator, has a white spot, which gradually and horrifyingly takes on the distinct shape of a gallows.

  5. Question 5

    What event immediately follows the narrator's hanging of Pluto, hinting at supernatural retribution?

    1. His wife leaves him.
    2. His house burns down.
    3. He loses his job.
    4. He is arrested for animal cruelty.
    Show answer

    B. His house burns down. On the night of Pluto's death, the narrator's house mysteriously burns down, leaving only one wall standing with an impression of a cat.

  6. Question 6

    What is the primary psychological theme explored through the narrator's actions?

    1. The triumph of good over evil.
    2. The power of redemption.
    3. The perverseness of human nature.
    4. The importance of sobriety.
    Show answer

    C. The perverseness of human nature. Poe explicitly introduces the concept of 'perverseness,' the irrational human impulse to do wrong for the sake of wrong, as a driving force behind the narrator's atrocities.

  7. Question 7

    How does the narrator kill his wife?

    1. He poisons her drink.
    2. He stabs her with an axe.
    3. He strangles her.
    4. He pushes her down the stairs.
    Show answer

    B. He stabs her with an axe. When his wife attempts to prevent him from harming the second cat, the narrator, in a fit of rage, buries an axe in her brain.

  8. Question 8

    Where does the narrator conceal his wife's body?

    1. In the attic.
    2. Under the floorboards.
    3. Within a newly built wall in the cellar.
    4. Buried in the garden.
    Show answer

    C. Within a newly built wall in the cellar. He meticulously conceals her body by plastering it into a false wall in the cellar, believing he has committed the perfect crime.

  9. Question 9

    How is the narrator's crime ultimately discovered by the police?

    1. He confesses under duress.
    2. The second cat's cries from within the wall reveal the body.
    3. Neighbors report a strange smell.
    4. A bloody axe is found in the house.
    Show answer

    B. The second cat's cries from within the wall reveal the body. In a moment of boastful pride, the narrator raps on the wall where his wife is hidden, and the 'howl' of the trapped cat inside reveals the gruesome truth.

  10. Question 10

    What literary device is most prominently used in the story to foreshadow the narrator's downfall and the cat's role?

    1. Irony.
    2. Symbolism.
    3. Alliteration.
    4. Hyperbole.
    Show answer

    B. Symbolism. The black cats themselves, especially the second cat with its gallows mark, serve as powerful symbols of the narrator's guilt, impending doom, and the supernatural consequences of his actions.

The Black Cat FAQ

What is the core premise of 'The Black Cat'?

'The Black Cat' chronicles the psychological and moral descent of an unnamed narrator, initially a kind animal lover, who succumbs to alcoholism and irrational rage. His increasing cruelty culminates in the murder of his beloved black cat, Pluto, and later, his wife, leading to his eventual capture and condemnation.

Who is Pluto and what is his significance in the story?

Pluto is the narrator's first and most cherished black cat, a symbol of his initial goodness and humanity. His murder, by hanging, marks the narrator's definitive plunge into depravity and is the first major act of violence that triggers a chain of increasingly horrific events.

How does alcohol contribute to the narrator's transformation?

Alcohol is presented as the primary catalyst for the narrator's shift from a gentle, humane individual to a violent, irrational monster. It fuels his 'fiendish perverseness' and provides a convenient excuse for his escalating cruelty towards his pets and ultimately his wife, blurring the lines of his accountability.

What role does the second black cat play in the narrative?

The second black cat, identical to Pluto except for a white patch on its breast, serves as a haunting doppelgänger and a symbol of the narrator's guilt. Its presence, particularly the evolving image of the gallows on its chest, constantly reminds him of his crime and drives him further into madness and paranoia.

What is the ultimate fate of the narrator?

The narrator is apprehended after the second black cat inadvertently reveals the location of his wife's body, which he had walled up in the cellar. He is subsequently sentenced to death, reflecting the grim consequences of his unchecked depravity and violence.

Is there any significance to the narrator's claim of having an 'innocent' nature in his youth?

The narrator's assertion of his youthful innocence and tenderness towards animals serves to highlight the dramatic contrast with his later brutality. This initial portrayal makes his subsequent descent into 'fiendish perverseness' all the more shocking and emphasizes the corrupting power of his vices.

What is the symbolic meaning of the fire that destroys the narrator's house?

The fire that consumes the narrator's house, shortly after Pluto's death, can be interpreted as a symbolic cleansing or a manifestation of divine judgment. It also serves as a physical representation of the narrator's internal turmoil and the destruction of his former life and morality.

How does the image on the wall, showing Pluto with a rope around his neck, impact the narrator?

The ghostly image of Pluto imprinted on the wall after the fire, complete with a rope around its neck, deeply disturbs the narrator. He initially rationalizes it, but it profoundly affects his psyche, serving as an early, supernatural manifestation of his guilt and foreshadowing the persistent torment of the second cat.

Are there any subtle clues about the narrator's deteriorating mental state before his first act of violence?

The narrator mentions his 'moodiness' and the increasing 'irascibility' brought on by alcohol even before he harms Pluto. These subtle hints of emotional instability and a growing lack of self-control foreshadow the more extreme violence that he will later commit, indicating a gradual psychological unraveling.

How does the narrator's 'perverseness' manifest psychologically?

The narrator's 'perverseness' is a key psychological element, described as an irresistible impulse to do wrong for wrong's sake, even against his better judgment. This self-destructive urge drives him to commit acts he knows are evil, demonstrating a profound internal conflict and a desire to transgress.

What psychological defense mechanisms does the narrator employ?

The narrator primarily uses rationalization and denial, blaming alcohol for his actions and initially trying to explain away the supernatural occurrences. He also projects his guilt onto the cats, viewing them as tormentors rather than symbols of his own crimes, to avoid confronting his culpability.

How does guilt psychologically affect the narrator throughout the story?

Guilt relentlessly torments the narrator, manifesting as paranoia, hallucinations (like the image on the wall), and a growing sense of dread. The second cat becomes a physical embodiment of his conscience, driving him to distraction and ultimately leading to his desperate attempt to murder it, which results in his wife's death.

In what ways does the narrator's relationship with animals reflect his internal state?

Initially, his tenderness towards animals reflects his moral intactness and humanity. As he descends into alcoholism and violence, his cruelty towards Pluto and the other animals mirrors his internal corruption and loss of empathy, showing how his external actions are a direct consequence of his psychological decay.

Is the second black cat a supernatural entity or a product of the narrator's delirium?

This is open to interpretation. While the narrator perceives it as a demonic entity, its appearance and the evolving gallows image could be manifestations of his guilt-ridden, alcohol-fueled delirium. Poe often blurs the line between the supernatural and psychological torment, leaving its true nature ambiguous.

What is the significance of the gallows image on the second cat's breast?

The gallows image is a potent symbol of the narrator's impending doom and the judgment for his crime against Pluto. It serves as a constant, inescapable reminder of his act of murder, intensifying his psychological torment and foreshadowing his ultimate punishment by hanging.

How does the narrator's unreliable narration impact the reader's understanding of events?

The narrator's unreliability, stemming from his alcoholism and madness, forces the reader to question his perspective. His attempts to rationalize his actions and his subjective descriptions of events create ambiguity, making it difficult to discern objective truth from his distorted reality and highlighting his psychological corruption.

Can the story be read as a cautionary tale about the dangers of addiction?

Absolutely. The story vividly portrays how unchecked alcoholism can lead to a complete moral collapse, violence, and self-destruction. The narrator's initial kindness gives way to 'fiendish perverseness' directly attributed to drink, serving as a stark warning against the destructive power of addiction.

What is the overarching theme Poe explores regarding human nature in 'The Black Cat'?

Poe explores the inherent capacity for evil within human nature, particularly the concept of 'perverseness' – the irrational impulse to commit wrong for its own sake. He suggests that even seemingly good individuals can descend into unspeakable depths of depravity when unchecked by reason or morality, especially under the influence of destructive vices.

About the author

Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is widely regarded as a central figure of Romanticism in the United States, and of American literature. He was one of the country's earliest practitioners of the short story, and is considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre, as well as a significant contributor to the emerging genre of science fiction. He is the first well-known American writer to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career.

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