On This Day: World Introduced to the Detective Story

Edgar Allan Poe was a writer and critic who had not yet found literary fame when he wrote “Murders in the Rue Morgue.” The piece appeared in Graham’s Magazine, where he was an editor.

Though some readers objected to gruesome descriptions in the piece, it was otherwise well-received and was soon translated abroad.

The story featured a detective named Auguste Dupin, an unnamed sidekick of sorts who recounts the story, and a murder that had taken place in a locked room, now all essential pieces of detective fiction used repeatedly through the decades.

Earlier stories and even genres had suspense and mystery, and some even think French author Voltaire wrote the first detective story. Most, though, agree Poe has the honor.

Dupin, Poe’s detective, later appeared in “The Mystery of Marie Roget” and “The Purloined Letter.” Poe's stories have earned him a place among one newspaper’s list of the 50 best crime writers.

Poe’s life as a prolific poet and suspense writer was a short and difficult one, but his influence is still felt in modern times, as his works inspire books and music.

Poe and his two siblings were orphaned when he was two, his brother William was four and his sister Rosalie was an infant. The children were then taken in by three different families. The Edgar Allan Poe Society has a detailed chronology of Poe’s life and his posthumous accomplishments.