Edgar Allan Poe was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre. He is further credited with contributing to the emerging genre of science fiction. In January 1845, Poe published his poem “The Raven” to instant success.