The Fall of the House of USher

Edgar Allen Poe
The fall of the House of Usher

Edgar Allen Poe started out with a hard way to life. His father, David Poe, was a mediocre traveling actor who was a heavy drinker. He deserted his wife, Elizabeth Arnold, when Edgar was only a baby. She died in Richmond, Virginia, leaving Edgar an orphan before his 3rd birthday.
John and Frances Allan, a childless couple in Richmond, took in Edgar. John Allan made no secret of his disappointment in Edgar and his literary ambitions. Surely Allan’s criticism added to Edgar’s growing ferocity.
At 17, Edgar entered the University of Virginia. He did well in his studies, but was resentful of the meager allowance Allan gave him. He tried to make extra money by gambling and went into debt. After Allan found this out he refused to help him and instead withdrew him from college.
After his despicable quarrel with Allan, Poe ran off to Boston to make his own way in the world. There in 1827, he published a small prologue of poems, Tamerla...