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Poe's financial problems started when he went to the University of Virginia in 1826. He had no money of his own, and his foster father, John Allan, only gave him about a third of what he needed for a year of education. Poe decided to earn money by gambling leading to a large debt that John Allan refused to pay in addition he refused to pay for further education. Little information regarding this debt can be found afterward, but Poe joined the US Army under an assumed name the following year.
Believe it or not, authors were not paid much at all in the early part of the 19th century. Most authors of the time were already wealthy or had benefactors. International copyright law was basically nonexistent, so Poe never earned a penny for his writing from outside the United States. Also, the copyright laws in the US were either not enforced or were very poor, so Poe never made much, if anything, in royalty fees. Magazine and newspaper companies also paid very poorly for tales and poetry at the time because they basically held a monopoly. The largest sum Poe ever earned for a story was $100 (about $2400 in today's buying power), and that was from a newspaper contest for his story 'The Gold-Bug.' To be fair, another factor was the population was very small in the US at the time (The 1850 Census showed less than 25 million people, and there were only about 7 million when he was born in 1809.), so the audience was small. Even so, Poe's work was not all that popular during his lifetime until maybe the last four years of his life. Poe did not do much better as an editor/critic as his wages were low, he was often fired, and he moved many times. In fact, Poe's income would be considered below poverty level for much of his adult life.
What else can I help you with?
Who was the wealthy woman that Edgar Allan Poe was going to marry?
Poe was engaged to marry his childhood love, Sarah Elmira Royster Shelton, the widow of wealthy businessman, Alexander B. Shelton. Poe died before they could be married.
Did Edgar Allan Poe eat hallucinogenic mushrooms while writing his stories?
There is no evidence to suggest that Edgar Allan Poe ate hallucinogenic mushrooms while writing his stories. Poe's writing style and themes are more likely attributed to his personal struggles, experiences, and imagination.
Did Joan of Arc become very wealthy?
No, Joan did not become wealthy.
Did Edgar Allan Poe always want to be a writer?
Yes, Edgar Allan Poe always had a passion for writing from a young age. He began writing poetry and stories as a child, and his love for literature continued throughout his life, eventually leading him to become one of the most influential writers in American literature.
Who was Edgar Allan Poe's mentor?
Edgar Allan Poe's mentor was John Allan, a wealthy merchant in Richmond, Virginia. Poe was fostered by Allan after the death of his parents and Allan played a significant role in Poe's upbringing and education.
Which poet influenced Edgar Allan Poe's writing?
Poe greatly admired the British poet Lord Byron.
How did ISIS become a wealthy terrorist group?
How did ISIS become such a wealthy terrorist group
What did Edgar Allan Poe love doing?
Writing poems.
You are writing an essay about Edgar Allan Poe what kind of mysteries did he write?
Poe wrote detective and gothic horror mysteries.
Why did florence become wealthy?
they became wealthy through trade
Why did Edgar Allan Poe decide to write?
Because he liked writing..
What literary figure did Edgar Allan Poe admire?
Edgar Allan Poe admired the works of Nathaniel Hawthorne. He respected Hawthorne's dark, atmospheric storytelling and his exploration of psychological themes in his writing. Poe even wrote a positive review of Hawthorne's work in a literary journal.
