BBC reports:
Edgar Alan Poe - the inventor of the detective story and creator of horror writing - is one of the most influential American writers ever. But he died an impoverished lunatic at the age of 40. Virtually no-one turned up for his original funeral in 1849. His tombstone was destroyed. An enemy wrote his obituary and damaged his reputation for decades. As if to make up for all these disasters, Poe is being royally treated this year. As part of events marking the anniversary of his death and 200 years since his birth, Baltimore, where Poe died and is buried, will host a double celebration. So many Poe fans are expected to attend that the service will be repeated, after an all-night vigil at his graveside in the eastern US port city. Poe attracts devotion. For decades his birthday has been marked by the so-called Poe Toaster, a mysterious visitor who leaves three roses and some cognac on his tombstone. And now Poe gets not one funeral service, but two - as befits the master of the macabre.