Edgar Allan Poe is undoubtedly one of the greatest and most influential writers in world literature, practically inventing science fiction, the detective story and the horror genre, but he had a troubled life with almost all of the people he loved dying early.

Is this why so much of his writing deals with dark and sombre themes, or is there another explanation for his fascination with the bleaker aspects of life?

In this biographical documentary, Professor Graeme Yorston, Neuropsychiatrist, explores the mind and mysterious final few days of a tormented genius.

Finding Out More:
There are many biographies of Edgar Allen Poe, the most authoritative of these by Arthur Hobson Quinn stretches to over 800 pages so I have included some of the newer and shorter ones. There are many classic films of Poe stories as well as the more recent Pale Blue Eye and Raven films. But the best way to get to know Poe is to read his short stories – still engaging and powerful after almost 200 years. I have added links to these on my Amazon store page: https://www.amazon.com/shop/professor...

Academic References;
Francis, R. A. (2010). The Final Days of Edgar Allan Poe: Clues to an Old Mystery Using 21st Century Medical Science. OMEGAJournal of Death and Dying, 60(2), 165173.
Giammarco, E. (2013). Edgar Allan Poe: A psychological profile. Personality and Individual Differences, 54(1), 36.
Osborn, M. W. (2009). A detestable shrine: Alcohol abuse in antebellum Philadelphia. Journal of the Early Republic, 29(1), 101132.
Patterson, R. (1992). Once upon a midnight dreary: the life and addictions of Edgar Allan Poe. CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal, 147(8), 1246.
Pruette, L. (1920). A psychoanalytical study of Edgar Allan Poe. The American Journal of Psychology, 31(4), 370402.
Teive, H. A. G., Paola, L. D., and Munhoz, R. P. (2014). Edgar Allan Poe and neurology. Arquivos de Neuropsiquiatria, 72, 466468.

Copyright Disclaimer:
The primary purpose of this video is educational. I have tried to use material in the public domain or with Creative Commons Nonattribution licences wherever possible. Where attribution is required, I have listed this below. I believe that any copyright material used falls under the remit of Fair Use, but if any content owners would like to dispute this, I will not hesitate to immediately remove that content. It is not my intention to infringe on content ownership in any way. If you happen to find your art or images in the video, please let me know and I will be glad to credit you.

Images:
Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Wellcome Collection
Poe Museum, Richmond Virginia
Edgar Allen Poe Society, Baltimore
Internet Archive

Music (via Wikimedia commons)
Bullof Heaven: By what eternal streams. CC0
Louis Gottschalk: Tournament Gallop. Rampart Winds of the United States Air Force Academy Band. Public domain.
Vladan Kuzmanovic: Prelude for broken piano No 2. CC4.0
Vladan Kuzmanovic: Technical etude for piano No 1 CC4.0
Gustav Mahler Trombone sole from 3rd Symphony: Trombonist Dennis Smith with W.W.S.S Wind Ensemble. William Cole, Conductor and Martha Goldstein, organ.
Johannes Brahms: Clarinet Trio OP 114. Paul Pitman (piano), BangEun Lee (cello) and Michael Arnold (clarinet). Public domain via Musopen.
Corvus corax Northern raven: Jonathon Jongsma. CC 3.0
Corvus splendens: Vladimir Yu. Arkhipov, Arkhivov CC3.0

Video produced by Graeme Yorston and Tom Yorston with the Voice Talent of Robert Meyers.