The Edgar Allan Poe Museum

The sun is setting, taking with it the warmth of the day. Wind rustles the dead leaves on the ground. You think you hear footsteps behind you, and the hair sticks up on the back of your neck. You whip around in fear - but all you see is a raven, watching you with dark, knowing eyes.  What makes a good horror story? Edgar Allan Poe seemed to know the answer. He remains one of the most popular horror writers ever, with classics such as The Raven, The Masque of the Red Death, and The Tell-Tale Heart still making readers shiver with suspense today. But how did Poe become the prolific writer we know him as? And why did he write such compelling, terrifying stories? Some of the answers may lie in the Edgar Allan Poe Museum, located in Baltimore Maryland. Our guest today is Chris Semter, a curator at the museum and one of Poe’s biggest fans. Learn about the poet’s childhood and upbringing, what inspired him to write horror and detective stories, and about his mysterious and untimely death. Also in today’s episode, enjoy dramatic readings of three of Poe’s best works that are sure to help you get into the Halloween spirit: The Raven, The Pit and the Pendulum, and The Tell-Tale Heart. Also learn about a mysterious man who visited Poe’s grave annually for 75 years - his identity remaining anonymous.