Brain Snacks: Tasty Tidbits of Knowledge
In Poe's case, life – or at least the <em>end</em> of life – imitated art. The story of his death is as spooky and perplexing as anything he wrote. According to legend, he was found lying in the gutter, taken to the hospital, and died four days later. He was never coherent enough to explain what had happened to him. The cause of his death remains undetermined to this day. Spooky. (Source.)
On January 19, 1949, the centennial of Edgar Allan Poe's death, a cloaked figure appeared at his grave and toasted Poe with a glass of cognac. The tradition carried on until January 2010, when the man, known as the "Poe Toaster," didn't show up.
(Source.)
Here's a not-so-fun fact: in 1836, Poe married his thirteen-year-old cousin, Virginia Clemm. He was fourteen years older than her. Not recommended. (source)