(CNN) — Poor Edgar Allan Poe. In life, he was a haunted writer whose Gothic works went largely unappreciated. In death, he’s a celebrated literary icon whose talent has earned him no fewer than three memorial sites.
The newest of the bunch was just ordained a Literary Landmark, and on what would’ve been the minister of the macabre’s 211th birthday. Poe was never one for parties, though.
The author might’ve hated all the hubbub around his literary legacy, though he was known for writing for mass appeal.
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Almost anything can be deemed a landmark of literature: Authors’ homes, museums dedicated to them, writers’ favorite hang-out spots — even Charles Dickens’ long-dead, now-stuffed pet raven “Grip.”
Poe didn’t live in the unassuming red-brick flat for long, but his impact on the city has manifested in peculiar ways: His most famous poem is named for a raven, and, 100-plus years later, so is Baltimore’s NFL team. It’s where he got his start in writing, and now, the city celebrates “Poe-Tober” in October to honor the spooky antics he might’ve enjoyed.