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(More customer reviews)Hosted by Peter Graves, the 47 minute A&E BIOGRAPHY episode entitled "The Mystery of Edgar Allan Poe" first aired in 1994. In its few re-enactments, Edgar is portrayed by lookalike Norman George.
This fast-moving bio partly depicts Poe's life through antique illustrations, etchings, daguerrotypes and book pages, also from modern drawings. His is an unrelentingly sad story.
Abandoned along with two siblings by his actor father (David), Poe's mother, Elizabeth ("Eliza") supported her family by appearing in stage productions. She contracted tuberculosis and died at age 24. The three orphans were adopted by John and Rosalie Allen. Mr. Allan was a successful merchant, yet he was stingy and cold toward Edgar.
Young Poe was sent by Allan to the University of Virginia, then a new roughhouse school. He was given only enough money for tuition and travel, which meant a life of great privation. With little food and no cash for clothing or heat, 17-year-old Poe began what would be a lifelong drinking habit. He ran up an immense gambling debt and joined the Army to escape it.
While he was away, Poe's adoptive mother also died from consumption. John Allen enrolled Edgar at West Point but then refused to pay expenses, so Poe got himself expelled. Rallying from this low point, he travelled to NYC and published some poetry. Prior to Edgar becoming a newspaper editor at age 26, John Allan died. He left Poe out of his will.
Our story continues with marriage to a 13-year-old cousin, Virginia and creation of the short stories and poetry that Edgar Poe is still remembered for. Tragically, Virginia would also succumb after a lengthy battle with TB. This was the final straw that pushed Edgar over the edge. He binged on alcohol, bounced from city to city, staying with tolerant friends and may have near the end lost his grip on reality. Poe died in a Baltimore hospital ward after a lingering coma. He was a few months short of his 41st birthday.
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