Brain Snacks: Tasty Tidbits of Knowledge
The circumstances of Poe's own death remain a mystery. Check out some of the popular theories here.
When Poe had to submit a brief biography for himself to a poetry publication, he submitted one that was half made-up. So began the mystery of Poe's "life story." (Source)
In spite of Poe's reputation as a master of the dark and grotesque, it's been argued that Poe had a strong sense of morality, which comes off in his works. (Source)
Kind of like Prospero, Poe has had a reputation as a party animal, with a particular taste for alcohol and opium. As it turns out, the reputation may not be deserved. (Source)
The late, famous samurai film director Akira Kurosawa wrote a script for "The Masque of the Red Death" which will be used to make an anime version of the story in 2010. (Source)