Edgar Allan Poe : Portrayal in the Media: an Annotated Bibliography of Edgar Alla Poe as a character

Introduction

This book is an annotated bibliography on the portrayal of Edgar Allan Poe as a character in media.  Poe's work has been used throughout the years after his death as an inspiration to other authors and artists. His stories have been referenced and recreated in many different genres and media.  Aside from adaptations of his stories, sometimes creators use Poe as a character.  Writers, artists, and actors have given life to the person that was Poe in their own interpretation of what they imagined he might have been like or simply imbibe him with the characteristics needed to move along their own plots.

Poe is usually portrayed as either the miserable macabre soul of the characters contained in his horror stories.  But just as often he is portrayed as the genius detective similar to his own character, C. Augustus Dupin, of The Purloined Letter. In biopics, most creators focus on the time Poe was a well-known writer and a few creators focus on the last two weeks prior to Poe's death that remain a mystery. However, there is enough adaptations of Poe as a character that makes for a wide range of story lines and depictions in genres like horror, science fiction, romance, and even humor.

The true personality of Edgar Allan Poe would be better deduced from his correspondence or perhaps even his literature reviews.  While portrayal's of Poe will sometimes show his literary snob side, or perhaps an inferred desperation due to financial failings, most portrayal's tend to lean on making Poe behave like the characters in his own stories.  Very few stories will mention Poe's youth as an athlete or soldier.  Equally as non-visible are forays into Poe's love life aside from mourning his dead wife and portrayal's of their courtship are scarce. As are portrayals of any of Poe's other romantic ventures.

Many of the people in Poe's life are also depicted in these stories, most common of course is Virginia Clemm, his wife. There might also be appearances from other members of his family, Maria Clemm, his siblings, his guardians, some friends as taken from his correspondence, and his somewhat of an enemy, Rufus Griswold. 

This "book" is divided by medium and, when possible, will include media and excerpts from the work being cited.  Edgar Allan Poe is the mournful genius or the brilliant detective.  It is rare that the two representations are depicted in the same story.  As more depictions of Poe are created and this bibliography is updated, perhaps even more diverse representations will come.

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