Faking It

This "American Heritage" article has nothing directly to do with Edgar Allan Poe, but it's nonetheless instructive reading for the Poe enthusiast. Considering how much Poe biography is based on old newspaper and magazine articles, it's good to keep in mind that you can't always believe what you read. Some of the worst nonsense that crept into the earlier Poe books, and, in some cases, is still perpetuated today (such as the notorious "Poe's Mary" article,) clearly arose from some poor-devil journalist in need of lively copy.