Contemporaries Edgar Allan Poe was better known as a literary critic. His poetry and short stories gained recognition after the death of the author. The innovative literature of Po gave the world the first detective story and opened the genre of science fiction.
"Murders on Morgue Street"
In the literature of the first half of the 13th century, the term "detective" did not yet exist. Edgar Allan Poe became famous for his "logical tales" of a French aristocrat applying his analytical skills to all areas of life. The plot of the story is built around a mystical double murder.
Auguste Dupont, not being a policeman or detective, discloses a crime using only information read in a newspaper. The story is based on the secret of murder in a closed room. For the first time in the history of literature, a narrative style was used in which the hero first exposes the criminal, and then describes the chain of conclusions that led to such conclusions.
Auguste Dupont, the protagonist of the Murder on the Morgue Street trilogy, is the prototype of such famous characters as Sherlock Holmes, Mrs. Marple and Hercule Poirot.
The novels “The Mystery of Marie Roger” and “The Stolen Letter” - the continuation of the adventures of Auguste Dupont, became the literary canon of the detective genre: a story on behalf of the unsympathetic friend of the protagonist, a helpless police and an eccentric analyst with brilliant deductive abilities.
Golden Beetle
The treasure hunt short story instantly became popular among readers. At that time, the interest in encryption, puzzles and secret writing was huge. A story in which literary fiction is closely intertwined with cryptography has become Edgar Poe's most famous and readable work.
The Golden Beetle is considered the first story in the genre of adventure literature. Stevenson wrote Treasure Island, inspired by this novel, which he openly admitted more than once.
"The extraordinary adventure of a certain Hans Pfahal"
Edgar Allan Poe, having written the story "The Extraordinary Adventure of a certain Hans Pfahal, " came close to creating the science fiction genre. The story of the journey to the moon of a simple Rotterdam artisan was written in a humorous and parody style, imitating a scientific report.
The adventures of the first interplanetary traveler were favorably received by the public. Using scientific facts as a literary device, Edgar Allan Poe created a new direction in fiction.
The raven who brought glory
The most famous poem by Edgar Allan Poe "The Raven" is a brilliant example of poetic symbolism and decadence of the Silver Age. This work has many translations and interpretations; several films were shot based on its plot.
Allusions to the poem "Raven" can be found in many well-known literary works and the work of musical groups. Raven became the prototype of some demons in several computer games.
