Poe's Literary Vengence Edgar Allan Poe is considered to be the master of the short fiction in Literature. His works seem to be based upon his tumultuous relationship with his stepfather. Grolier's Encyclopedia tells us Poe like his stepfather was an orphan at an early age. It also tells us Poe was reared by John and Frances Allan. He left the country for his early childhood schooling and returned to the United States in 1820. Grolier's says in 1827, he was estranged by his stepfather because Poe refused to work to pay off his own gambling debts. Poe's immaturity lead to anger to