New PBS Documentary Reveals Edgar Allan Poe's Overlooked Literary Legacy

Just in time for Halloween, PBS stations will begin airing "In Search of Edgar Allan Poe" on Saturday, October 25, offering viewers the most in-depth documentary ever made about America's enigmatic literary figure. The 2-part, 3-hour film aims to reveal the man behind the macabre stories that have become Halloween staples, delving into Poe's mysterious life and enduring legacy beyond his reputation as a master of gothic horror.

The documentary's importance lies in its comprehensive examination of Poe's often-overlooked literary innovations that shaped modern storytelling. Few people realize that Poe essentially invented the detective genre, creating a template that would influence countless successors. Without Poe's foundational work, there would be no Sherlock Holmes, no Hercule Poirot, and no Adrian Monk according to the film's revelations. This establishes Poe as a foundational figure in popular culture whose influence extends far beyond his horror stories.

Filmmaker Andrew D. Kaplan, Ph.D., explained the documentary's approach: "We immerse the viewer in Poe's life and works, using 40 evocative pieces of music, interviewing 5 leading scholars, and shooting the film at 12 Poe-related locations." The film gives voice to key figures in Poe's life who have been largely overlooked in previous documentaries, including his beloved wife Virginia, aunt Maria Clemm, and older brother Henry, who inspired him to become an author.

The documentary also highlights Poe's pioneering role in science fiction, demonstrating his influence on giants like Jules Verne and H.G. Wells. Chris Semtner, curator of the Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia, noted in the film that "Poe had a huge impact on the science fiction genre because what he did was, he took fantastic stories about trips to the Moon or balloon trips across the ocean and tried to make them seem as if they could actually happen." This scientific approach to speculative fiction established principles that would define the genre for generations.

Perhaps most surprisingly, the film reveals that Poe was one of the first writers to describe concepts resembling the Big Bang Theory and an expanding universe in his prose poem Eureka, using the vocabulary of his day to discuss cosmic phenomena that later became established scientific fact. This positions Poe not just as a literary figure but as a thinker whose insights anticipated major scientific developments.

The documentary also uncovers fascinating personal details about Poe, including that he coined more than 1,000 words that enriched the English language, was examined by former Presidents James Madison and James Monroe while a student at the University of Virginia, and showed up inebriated to his only meeting with President John Tyler at the White House. Cat lovers may appreciate learning that Poe himself was one, often writing with his beloved tortoise-shell cat Catterina on his shoulder.

The film sheds new light on Poe's mysterious death in Baltimore and why he was found wearing someone else's clothes at a local tavern on Election Day. Kaplan stated, "We hope to dispel persistent myths about Poe's life and death and reveal his remarkable influence on later writers, artists, and scientists. Few people realize his enduring impact." The documentary is available on PBS stations and streaming via the PBS App, as well as on Kanopy for those with a library card, and Tubi.