I am researching some information of poe and i have hit a dead end. In my college english class our assignment was to diagnos an author or character that we enjoy reading. Well, in the begining of my search i was convinced that poe had an addiction problem, but that was lack of information on my part. If anyone can help me out and at least tell me what sights are good for researching poe and his inspiratons i'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks-- B.

-- Anonymous, October 06, 2002

Answers

It comes out clearly in his letters and admissions. Any biography will tell you about his drinking, a brief episode of a weak suicide attempt with laudanum? Try www.eapoe.org. He did not need much but was not a crazed lunatic. His one case of the DT's he documents in detail was harrowing and revealing but not a source of inspiration for his creative genius. More the other way round. Poverty and bad diet added to symptoms of heavy drinking that could be disgnosed as heart disease and hypoglycemia.

An excellent source to compare the eternal question of how drugs affect the writer is Stephen King's honest "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft." He is considerably correct in saying the disease has no good influence on the craft or inspiration at all. See also Baudelaire's "Les Paradis Artificiels"(Artifical Paradises)

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2002

You worthless piece of shit

-- Anonymous, October 09, 2002