Today would have been Poe’s birthday. Born on 19 January 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, he died aged 40 on 7 October, Baltimore, Maryland, United States.

I’ve been to his grave in Baltimore. There’s a memorial in the front of the church and his real grave hidden round the back. I wonder if the Poe-toaster has been back. Someone used to leave three roses, take a sip of cognac and leave the rest of the bottle every year.

Happy Birthday Poe