The Truth About Edgar Allan Poe's Wife

The same blog further explains that some think the marriage was never actually consummated. (As Morehead State Public Radio puts it, "Biographers disagree as to the nature of the couple's relationship.") Others say the couple began (happily) to share a marital bed once she turned 16.

Just as people of that time married at a young age, death often came at a young age. Virginia Poe was one example. In January 1842, Virginia was singing and playing the piano when she began to cough up blood. It was a very visible symptom of tuberculosis — the same incurable disease which had killed Edgar's mother. After five years of suffering, Virginia died, age 24.

There's no question but that Edgar was devastated by the death of his wife. As the American Literary Blog points out, Virginia's death did not drive Edgar to drink. On the contrary, he'd been drinking far too much earlier in their marriage. After Virginia's death he rose from his depression to seek help with his alcohol abuse. He joined a temperance society and basically sobered up.

Virginia Clemm Poe was just 24 years old when she died in 1847. Edgar's mother also died of tuberculosis at age 24. Edgar followed Virginia in 1849 — to this day, his death is clouded in mystery.

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