How was poe's reputation manipulated by his rival after his death?

Answer 1

Rufus Wilmot Griswold. Poe and Griswold had a problematic relationship in which each had some respect and disrespect for each other. The disrespect part grew more pronounced until they were virtual enemies of one another. After Poe's death Griswold wrote an unflattering obituary of Poe, which he signed "Ludwig", probably fearing the reaction that would be leveled against him because of it. In addition, after Poe's death, Griswold published a treatise of Poe's works and then wrote a negative biography of Poe himself. Many negative items in the biography were outright untruths.

Answer 2

Rufus Griswold, a rival of Poe, wrote a scathing obituary portraying Poe as a madman, drug addict, and womanizer, which tainted his reputation for many years. Griswold also published a posthumous biography of Poe filled with falsehoods and exaggerated negative traits, further damaging Poe's legacy. It took years for scholars to set the record straight and restore Poe's reputation as a literary genius.