in publishing to discourage him, for he produced a second volume of literature, Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems, in 1829. As its title indicates, it was a revised and expanded version of his first book, receiving about as much acclaim.After expulsion from West Point, which he admittedly brought upon himself of his own free will, Poe was destitute. He was in extreme financial difficulties, being unable to attain any grant from his foster father. Though he was at this time more desperate then ever before, he showed extreme perseverance in his literary ventures. He published a book entitled, merely, Poems. Though it too was largely ignored by critics, it contained several of his most famous poems: "To Helen," "Israfel," "The City in the Sea," "Lenore," & "The Valley of Unrest." Upon finding salvation in the home of his Aunt Clemm in Baltimore, an active publishing center, he set to work as an author. In 1831 he competed in a contest, held by the Philadelphia Saturday Courier, to see who could submit the best short story. He submitted five stories, yet won nothing (though it should be duly noted that only one, "Metzengerstein," was first-rate). In June of 1833, he again entered a literary competition, held this time by the Baltimore Saturday Visitor. His submissions this time included "A Descent into the Maelstrm," and "MS Found in a Bottle," for which he won first place."Poe now went through a period of emotional instability during which he apparently resorted to the bottle to steady his nerves. He was no habitual drunkard and never wrote under the influence of drink, for he was very frugal and of a sober inclination, but he was extremely sensitive and given to excruciating fits of depression, so that he could not at all time resist the temptation of using alcohol as a sort of moral anesthetic. Unfortunately, he was inordinately affected by even one glass and then lost all sense of dignity and decency. As he put it himself: ‘...
