Edgar Allan Poe, the man who invented the written mystery. The man who authored the most read and quoted poem ever written, The Raven. A man who's beleaguered body stopped working before his grand mind was able to run its course. At forty he died younger than any of his fellow scribes yet he left a far richer written legacy. We shall have him nevermore. Ah Eddie, we hardly knew Ye. . . .
History reveals this unusual, often distressed, tormented soul, at one time or another experienced every emotion known to man, save the feeling of being financially comfortable. Many wish they could walk into one of Mr. Poe's haunts and tipple with this great scribe who's soul lives in his prose and poetry. If you have not read the writings and history of this enigmatic gentleman, then you have deprived yourself of a great learning experience. If you could have been one of those to tipple with one of America's greatest minds, there is a good chance you would not have joined a morose depressed man but rather a cheerful spirit. Poe had manic depressive tendencies. It is fair to say that he had reason for his depressive bouts, including liquor itself, however history rarely records that Poe was a cheerful child and also so in his younger manhood. He was often a light hearted companion.
There are those who claim to have enjoyed drinking a while with Poe and none of the horrible things ascribed to him took place. This is more likely to have happened when Poe was in good spirits, could afford a few drinks and certainly dined.
It is the hard core dedicated swilling sans eating that sullied his reputation. His depressive argumentative bouts with his unofficial infidel stepfather John Allan, who seemed to resent his presence in the family and the death of Fanny Allan, his total love and true representative mother. His discovery of John Allan's infidelity to Fanny and the resulting offspring infuriated him and the pain of mental injury this knowledge caused to Fanny in effect ruined his life as he knew it, as a younger man.
Disinherited and banned from the Allan clan, left to live on the skills of his mental abilities sent Eddie into a search for a family environment and female love. His poverty decimated his past cheerfulness and life became serious and morose. Eddie had been surrounded by drinking in his early life. He served John Allan as a child toastmaster often when there were frivolities and drinking with guests in the Allan home. His articulation was seen as brilliant in such a young lad as he coaxed his elders to raise their glass.
Of course his reputation as a drinker comes in tandem with knowing his work. In search of his drinking preferences, we read he favored whiskey, however research shows the American Whiskey available in Baltimore in Poe's time was no more than unpalatable white lightening. Not a good choice for anyone except mountain folk and their downtrodden customers. American Whiskey came unto its own after Poe's death. More likely the reference was to Irish Whiskey or other strong spirits. In Poe's time the term Whiskey could mean any strong drink. Whether Eddie was a drinking guest or he drank at his own expense had everything to do with his choice, which certainly varied. He did not drink every day. He was continuously poor.
He often drank ale. The lesser strength gave him longer staying power and it was affordable. Also perhaps ale had some food value. Poe seldom ate when drinking leaving him with tormented intestines. Alcohol is a depressant. Some say Poe drank because he was depressed, making a dog chasing his tail situation, which is not a new thing for problem drinkers. Poe had quite an active mind which was soothed by drink.
Note in the rhyme that follows, how Poe found humor in his alcohol laced "hilarious"visions conjured up while meditating during his drinking leisure. He was actually laughing at himself and having a good time in his solace. He tells us he did not care how time slipped by as he was happily "drinking ale today". Also note the message, "I will drain that glass again." Of course, and with Poe, again and again. What remarkable self revealing statements are found in this genus poem. It certainly reveals he found joy in drinking and thinking. Do not for a moment believe Poe's work was done while drinking. Some writers will claim inspiration while drinking but truthful writers will tell you quality writing does not travel with quality drinking. The following quote from Poe seems to well set up his rhyme:
"They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night."
Filled with mingled cream and amber;
I will drain that glass again;
Such hilarious visions clamber;
Through the chamber of my brain;
Quaintest thoughts, queerest fancies;
Come to life and fade away.
What care I how time advances?
I am drinking ale today.*
~ Edgar Allan Poe
Eddie, as he was known to friends, went as long as eighteen months without drinking. There is a letter where Poe claims to have gone several years, however this is in doubt. We do know He had no tolerance for alcohol but was drawn like a moth to a flame, looking for relief from his tormented thoughts. One drink set his eyes to glaze. He would take to bed for a lengthy stay after a serious drinking bout. The claim to alcoholism is not accurate by our definition.** Many drinkers of many styles are often referred to as alcoholics and they are not. Nor was he a regular user of opiates. There are reports he enjoyed absinthe which was often the choice of artistic types during that period. We believe he did not drink absinthe. One often quoted reference is, "History In A Bottle' by Barnaby Conrad" and we hold that Poe indulged in absinthe in dispute. Poe's use of absinthe is a nonsense that has grown as a written rumor will often do, like so many other inaccurate sensational-isms about Poe that only serve the author, not history and certainly not the memory of Eddie Poe.
References are sparse that touch upon Poe's personal drinking choices. We know he enjoyed Port Wine, champagne and often laced his coffee with Jamaican Rum. He enjoyed the sweeter wines and used hard cider to temper his long spells of self induced abstinence. He never rejected a proffered drink, thus he was well acquainted with the spirits of his time and wrote about many, all of which he consumed. His reputation suffered due to drink, however much falling down gutter drunkenness ascribed to him is out of proportion. It is fair to say, he was often a compulsive binge drinker, once started he did not stop until he was either out of money or totally inebriated. History is not kind to Eddie. He was genuine gentleman and intellect who had a genetic problem, not recognized as it is today. Ah Eddie, we hardly knew Ye. . . .
The mystery surrounding Poe's death is still fresh today with speculation. Research reveals there is no evidence he was drunk or even under the influence while being treated, just prior to his death. It could be claimed that the pitiful condition in which he was found came about because of drink, as that was the time he was most vulnerable. He was found in tattered clothing that was not at all normal and certainly not his own. Poe was rather proud and like most, hated to be demeaned or seen in a poor light. So it can be safely assumed his dress, when he was found, was not of his choice. This opens the door to speculation of outside influence. We must leave it at that, except to give more credit to the thought that Poe was put upon by scoundrels, rather than the thought that he died as a gutter bound drunk, as is often stated. The next page will give you the clearest explanation we have found and we find it quite credible. Ah Eddie . . . .
*"I am drinking ale today" This last line of Eddie's rhyme sends a strong message from his drinking personality. He is drinking ale today. This can mean it is an all day project or it can mean that tomorrow he may be drinking something else. Poe was the wordsmith king. He did not have to end the poem with "today", he could have used another time frame, but in his mind there was no other time frame. This was a project for the day. Not for now, not for evening tide, but for today.
**Was Eddie Poe an alcoholic? While he certainly fit the pattern to a casual observer, further investigation makes his situation seem far different than the typical alcoholic. He called himself, "sensitive to spirits". Actually, he was a great deal more than just sensitive, he had zero tolerance from birth. We can liken him to the American Indian who inherited none of the drinking stability of the Europeans. The White Man, after introducing alcohol to these uninitiated souls, coined the phrase "Like a drunken Indian." Should we call all American Indians alcoholics because their bodies found alcohol to be an invading overwhelming spirit which left them out of control? In the Indian ancestry the body had never coped with alcohol, thus it was a poison to the system. Alcoholic is a term not at all considerate of this type condition.
Poe has said he only seeks out his friends when he drinks thus they only know him to drink, ergo they think he drinks constantly and so say, negating his stature. The point is he spent months without drink or those friends. He was not known to stash bottles or have tremors or lie, cheat or steal just to get a drink, or suffer many of the other marked maladies alcoholics often have. One thinly diluted drink set the tone for him to then drink well beyond most any capacity because his mind and body were chemically placed past the reach of his conscious control. He hated the fact he could not behave as others when drinking. Seldom was there stopping by for a drink with the boys, in Eddie's life. He did not like drink nor did his system. Unfortunately it gave him solace during times of grief and despair, which times were too often visited upon his being. He was a man who wanted the fine things money brings. He belongs to the exclusively few who ever missed an appointment to see an aide to the President of The United States, due to drink. Picture a man who had the personal attributes which made him known to The President, however none of the attributes it took to gain money. A built-in formula for despair. Ah Eddie, we hardly knew Ye. . . . | 
