Edgar Allan Poe is one of America's best-loved authors. During Poe's short and turbulent life, he invented the modern detective story and horror genre with such immortal works as "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Cask of Amontillado," "The Pit and the Pendulum," "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," and "The Fall of the House of Usher."

He is also known for the haunting melody of his poetry, as in the classics "The Raven," "Annabel Lee," and many more. In addition, Poe wrote numerous critical articles, reviews, and essays on a variety of subjects. "Critical Companion to Edgar Allan Poe" covers all of the writer's major and most minor works. The entries also provide a wealth of information on his personal life, including relationships with friends, relatives, and associates.

This updated and reorganized edition of the award-winning "Edgar Allan Poe A to Z" contains extensive new material, including new critical commentary on Poe's major poems and stories. Coverage includes: synopses and critical assessments of all Poe's major works, including poems and stories; descriptions of Poe's fictional characters, from C. Auguste Dupin to Montresor; discussions of Poe's influence on Baudelaire and other French poets; and, entries on places that influenced Poe, from Baltimore to New York City.