Edgar Allan Poe was considered a success as a writer primarily around 1845 when his poem "The Raven" was published to great acclaim. The publication of "The Raven" made him famous and an overnight success, bringing him national recognition for the first time. Prior to that, although Poe had been writing and publishing since the late 1820s and had some editorial positions and prizes for his short stories, he struggled financially and his works gained only modest attention. His major success and celebrity status came with "The Raven" and later with prize-winning stories like "The Gold Bug" in 1843-1845, when his contributions to poetry, short stories, and detective fiction became widely recognized.

Key Milestones of Poe's Success as a Writer:

• Early career struggles in the 1820s and 1830s, earning meager profits despite editorial roles.
• "Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque" published in 1840 helped establish his reputation as a short story writer.
• 1841, invention of the detective story ("The Murders in the Rue Morgue") gained literary notice.
• 1843, won a $100 prize for "The Gold Bug," boosting his literary profile.
• 1845, "The Raven" publication brought him widespread fame and is considered his greatest triumph.

Thus, Edgar Allan Poe was considered a successful writer mainly beginning in the mid-1840s, particularly with the publication of "The Raven."