Edgar Allan Poe has been lauded as one of America’s most important writers- not only for the body of work he created, but also for the greatness he continues to stir in others. 

Notable artists who have taken inspiration from Poe include detective novelist Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, horror writer and historian H.P. Lovecraft, author and screenwriter Ray Bradbury, Hollywood auteur Alfred Hitchcock, and best-selling master of suspense Stephen King. 
 
In an apropos twist of dark irony, Poe, the subject of enthusiastic admiration for generations after his death, spent much of his bleak career unappreciated, friendless, and, at times, even reviled.  Poe’s hapless upbringing and frequent poverty formed the tragic beauty of his writing, and his enigmatic demise sparked a curious appreciation of his work that began only after his untimely end.
 
In this discussion accompanied by illustrative and documentary slides, actor and storyteller Johnny Kinsman will chronicle the formative relationships and major events in Poe’s complicated life, and will read excerpts from his celebrated work.