The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe

The film opens with Edgar Poe being taken in by John and Frances Allan after his mother's death. Mrs. Frances Allan is devoted to him, while Mr. John Allan harbors a growing animosity toward the orphan. This early dynamic sets up the conflicts that will shape Poe's youth and his pursuit of a literary career.

Poe's childhood romance with Elmira Royster is introduced. Elmira marries another man while Poe is at the University of Virginia, which seeds a lifelong ache and inspiration for his poetry. The separation drives his longing and informs his early writings.

Poe is disowned by John Allan as he pursues a literary career and rejects Allan's wishes. Allan disparages Poe's admiration for Lord Byron, underscoring the strained relationship. The tension pushes Poe toward independent paths and his own literary ambitions.

Poe joins the U.S. Army and, through Allan's influence, receives an appointment to West Point. He shows little interest in military discipline, skipping classes and avoiding functions. His lack of commitment leads to dismissal and another setback in his career.

Seeking stability, Poe relocates to Baltimore with his foster-mother Muddy Clemm and her daughter Virginia Clemm. The domestic arrangement gives him a home and a platform to write, and he soon marries Virginia. This period marks a pivotal shift toward his literary production.

Poe becomes editor and writer for the Southern Literary Messenger and Graham's Magazine. His bold ideas and editorial energy raise his profile but also invite controversy. This phase solidifies his status as a leading American writer in Baltimore.

Poe advocates for copyright protections for authors, drawing support from Charles Dickens after a meeting in Philadelphia in 1842. The stance stirs controversy and contributes to his dismissal as editor. Dickens and Poe develop a mutual respect that crosses borders.

Poe, Virginia, and Muddy relocate to a cottage in Fordham, New York City. Virginia contracts a disease and grows increasingly ill as the family endures poverty. The move sets the stage for the final creative stretch of Poe's career.

Poe reveals to Virginia that he has written The Raven and believes it could fetch a modest sum. He hopes the poem will establish him financially and as a major American poet. The scene hints at the irony that The Raven would become one of the era's most celebrated works.

Elmira Royster visits Virginia to offer financial help, but Virginia declines. The moment underscores the strain poverty places on the family and the tenuous nature of relief from old acquaintances. It also foreshadows the tragedy surrounding Virginia's illness.

Poe tries to offer The Raven to Rufus Griswold, who turns it down. He has Griswold's staff listen to the poem, and most dismiss it, save for a single hopeful youth. The sequence highlights the irony of later success despite early rejection.

Virginia Clemm dies from her illness after Poe's return to her side. Poe reads 'Annabelle Lee' to her, marking a poignant moment of loss that fuels his later work. The scene cements the couple's intimate bond and foreshadows Poe's grief-filled later years.

In the film's closing sequence, Poe is dragged through the streets of Baltimore and rushed to a hospital. He lingers for three days and professes his love for Virginia. He dies soon after, ending with him reading 'A Dream Within a Dream' as his final moment.