Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic who is best known for his poetry and short stories, especially his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is widely recognized as a central figure of Romanticism in the United States and American literature. Edgar Allan Poe is credited with initiating the modern detective story, developing the Gothic horror story, and being a significant early forerunner of the science fiction genre.