Top 10 Unbelievable Fun Facts About Edgar Allan Poe: Literary Secrets Unveiled!

1. Cat Lover Poe

Though often typecast as a nightmarish beast master with an affinity for eye-gouging feline showdowns, our esteemed Mr. Poe was knee-deep in quite a different puddle of kittens: In reality, Edgar Allan Poe was an unabashed cat lover, frequently seeking the companionship of a Siamese sidekick perched on his shoulder whilst he penned his chilling tales, and mourning his beloved tortoiseshell Catterina, who crossed the rainbow bridge shortly after her master's own departure.
Source => whatculture.com

2. Eggnog Enthusiast

Whoever said "You can't have your eggnog and drink it too" never knew Edgar Allan Poe, the macabre master of rhyme and nog: It turns out our beloved author had a cherished family recipe for eggnog that has been passed down since 1760, though there's no proof of his unnatural affinity for this creamy, holiday libation.
Source => newyorker.com

Did you know the infamous Zodiac Killer may have been inspired by a 1932 movie adaptation of a short story? Discover the chilling connection and how it played a role in one of his tragic attacks.

=> Fun Facts about Literature

3. Action Hero Poe

In a parallel universe where Edgar Allan Poe moonlights as an action hero, solving gothic mysteries one athletic feat at a time: our beloved maestro of the macabre was in fact a proficient athlete in his youth, excelling in pursuits such as swimming, boxing, and gallant horseback riding.
Source => pbs.org

4. Master Code Cracker

Before Sherlock Holmes donned his deerstalker and cracked codes like a Victorian detective, another gentleman of mystery dipped his quill into the inkwell of cryptography: Edgar Allan Poe successfully solved all but one of the many substitution ciphers submitted to a magazine in 1839 after boldly challenging the public with his cunning abilities.
Source => cs.trincoll.edu

5. Shakespeare Admirer

When William Shakespeare and Edgar Allan Poe walk into a library, one might say it's a "tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing," but in reality, it's a literary love affair for the ages: Edgar Allan Poe's admiration for Shakespeare was so great, numerous books from Poe's personal collection can be found on display at the Lincoln Home in Springfield, Illinois, giving visitors a peek into the master of macabre's reading preferences and inspirations.
Source => authoradventures.org

6. Poe's Personal Demons

Quoth the raven, "Nevermore, will Poe be sober!" Believe it or not: Edgar Allan Poe, celebrated for penning gripping horror and mystery stories, battled alcoholism and personal tragedies, including the heart-wrenching death of his wife Virginia, which led to his reliance on drugs and alcohol.
Source => eapoe.org

7. The Raven's Grand Debut

Just like a raven with a flair for theatrics, Poe's famous poem had a penchant for disguises before taking on its final form, quoth the masquerading masterpiece: "The Raven" was initially published on January 29, 1845, in the New York Evening Mirror under the pseudonym "---Quoth the Raven," and only a week later did it reveal its true master by adding Edgar Allan Poe as the author.
Source => americanliteraryblog.blogspot.com

8. Mysterious Poe Toaster

In a scene that seems straight out of a gothic fairytale complete with a shadowy figure in a broad-brimmed hat, midnight rendezvous, and a smattering of roses left at a grave: an unidentified person, known as the Poe Toaster, carried on an annual tradition for nearly 80 years by paying tribute to Edgar Allan Poe on his birthday at his Baltimore gravesite, raising a glass of cognac and leaving behind three roses as well as an unfinished bottle of the fine libation. The ritual persisted until 2009 when the original Toaster vanished, leaving imposters in his wake and the authenticity of the tribute in question—until the Maryland Historical Society stepped in to appoint a new and worthy Toaster in 2016.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Incestuous Marriage Muse

Long before "Game of Thrones" made incestuous relationships awkwardly tolerable, Edgar Allan Poe was quite the trendsetter in the family ties department: Edgar and his 13-year old bride, Virginia Clemm, were not only cousins but also enjoyed a tender and supportive marriage that served as a muse for his literary masterpieces, forever etching their tragic love story into the annals of history.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. Balloon-Hoax Mastermind

In a twist that would make M. Night Shyamalan swoon, Edgar Allan Poe had the whole world on pins and needles believing they'd witnessed a gas balloon ride for the ages: The "Balloon-Hoax" article crafted by Poe was initially thought to be a true account of European balloonist Monck Mason's transatlantic journey in 1844, only to be revealed as a carefully constructed hoax and retracted by the newspaper a mere two days later.
Source => en.wikipedia.org