Edgar Allen Poe

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what were the names of three important people in Edgar Allen Poe's lifetime

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2002

Answers

virgina clemm

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2002

I presume you mean three people important to Poe? His wife Virginia Clemm was pivotal, a season of hope and domestic happiness between disappointments and tragedies. John Allan, wife of his aunt, his guardian, for giving Poe education and financial hopes only to take all away. Rufus Griswold, felow writer and executor of Poe's legacy which he ruined by calumny and spite, the ill effects lasting still in public judgment and misperceptions of Poe. Griswold started off as friend, rival and then became an outright enemy after a scathing Poe review of his book. He typifies the stormy relationship the literary world has always had with Poe- and the falseness and injustices that spew therefrom. Except for Virginia it is hard to pick any three above the others. Editors of his works, other friends, early loves, his mother, Mrs. Clemm, fellow poets comes to mind. What is striking that nearly all have some seesaw instability, whether Virginia's health, falling outs with fellow poets and editors, unrequited loves all coming from the raging inner controversy in Poe's own soul.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2002

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