Edgar Allan Poe: A Biography
Gr. 6-12. Meltzer, author of several other biographies from this publisher, includingCarl Sandburg(1999) andWalt Whitman(2000), now introduces Poe. After a difficult youth, Poe married his cousin and struggled to support his family with a literary career that included creating groundbreaking poetry, short stories, and works in the mystery genre as well as many potboilers. Meltzer's analysis includes perceptive discussions of issues such as Poe's troubled relationship with his foster father and the probable causes and disastrous effects of Poe's alcoholism. More than most other biographers for young people, Meltzer places his subject within the framework of his society. Readers will come away not only with a greater knowledge of Poe's life and accomplishments but also a clearer picture of American life in the first half of the nineteenth century. Back matter includes a chronology, two bibliographies, and information about museums devoted to Poe. Black-and-white reproductions of period paintings, drawings, prints, and documents illustrate this informative biography.Carolyn PhelanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved