"Despite his short and turbulent life, Edgar Allan Poe left an indelible mark on world literature. Poe is often credited with the invention of the modern genres of the detective story and horror fiction, and he also figured prominently in the romantic literary movement. Reviled in his time, Poe is today one of America's best-loved authors. Critical Companion to Edgar Allan Poe covers all of the prolific writer's major and most of his minor works. Poe also wrote numerous critical articles, reviews, and essays, many of which are examined in this volume. This updated, expanded, and reorganized edition of Edgar Allan Poe A to Z, winner of the 2002 Edgar Award for Best Critical/Biographical Work, contains extensive new material, including all-new commentary sections on Poe's major stories, poems, and essays."--Jacket.