Alan Bass (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1987), 411–96; repr. in Muller and Richardson, The Purloined Poe, 173–212.

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Hungerford, Edward, ‘Poe and Phrenology’, American Literature, 2 (1930), 209–31.

Irwin, John T., American Hieroglyphics: The Symbol of Egyptian Hieroglyphics in the American Renaissance (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1980).

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A CHRONOLOGY OF EDGAR ALLAN POE

1809

Born 19 January in Boston to the popular actress Eliza Arnold and her less talented husband David Poe. Father abandons family in the autumn the same year.

1811

Mother dies in Richmond, Virginia. Separated from his older brother William and infant sister Rosalie, Poe is taken in (but not formally adopted) by merchant John Allan and his wife Frances.

1815–20

Poe travels with the Allans to Scotland and London, where he attends boarding schools in Chelsea and Stoke Newington.

1820–5

After financial losses, the Allans return to Richmond. In private academies, Poe excels at languages and begins to write. Reestablishes contact with brother and sister, now called Henry and Rose.

1826

Enters the University of Virginia (founded the year before by Thomas Jefferson). Triumphs in Latin and French, but withdraws after one year when Allan refuses to honour his accumulated gambling debts. Returns to Richmond to find his year-old engagement to Elmira Royster broken off by her parents.

1827

In Boston works in newspaper office, publishes anonymously the 40-page Tamerlane and Other Poems, and enlists in Army as ‘Edgar Perry’. Stationed in South Carolina, Poe soon wishes to leave the military, but to please Allan applies to US Military Academy at West Point.

1829

Frances Allan dies. Allan supports Poe’s discharge from Army and application to West Point. In December Poe publishes under his own name Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems, without Allan’s financial assistance.

1830

Enters West Point in May. Allan remarries, ending Poe’s hope of inheritance.

1831

After Allan’s refusal to release him from West Point, Poe in January intentionally neglects academic and military duties until he is expelled. In April he publishes in New York a new volume of Poems, including ‘To Helen’. In Baltimore lives with his paternal aunt Maria Clemm and her 9-year-old daughter Virginia. Reunited with his brother Henry, who dies in August. Publishes his first tale ‘A Dream’ in August.

1832–3

Regularly publishes ironic tales, including ones in the projected series ‘Tales of the Folio Club’. ‘MS. Found in a Bottle’ wins prize from the Baltimore Visiter [sic], where it is published in October.

1835

Travels with Maria and Virginia Clemm to Richmond to assume editorship of Southern Literary Messenger. His Gothic tales like ‘Berenicë’ and incisive reviews increase the Messenger’s circulation fivefold.

1836

In Richmond renews acquaintance with sister Rose. Marries the 14-year-old Virginia in May. Leaves editorship in December, although the Messenger still publishes over the next two months instalments from his novel The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym.

1837

Moves to New York and fails to find publisher for ‘Tales of the Folio Club’.

1838

Moves to Philadelphia. After a year’s delay, Harper and Brothers in July publishes Pym, Poe’s first book of fiction. Returns to magazine publication, most notably in September with ‘Ligeia’.

1839

Assumes editorship of Burton’s Gentleman’s Magazine. Publishes there ‘The Man that was Used Up’ in August, ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ in September, and in December ‘The Man of the Crowd’. In December also publishes his first collection of stories, Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque.

1840

After publishing in the Gentleman’s an attack on Longfellow in February, Poe leaves the magazine in June and immediately begins circulating prospectus for his own journal, the Penn Magazine.

1841

Takes position with Graham’s Lady’s and Gentleman’s Magazine, the former Burton’s Gentleman’s now under new ownership. Publishes there in March another attack on Longfellow and in April the first detective story, ‘The Murders in the Rue Morgue’.