Final answer:
The detail that best supports the article's central idea about Poe's life influencing his writing is his preference for poetry over profits, indicated by his habit of writing poems on Allan's business papers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The central idea of an article examining Edgar Allan Poe's life and works would likely revolve around how his personal experiences influenced his writing. Considering this, the detail that best supports this central idea is A. Preferring poetry over profits, Poe was said to have written poems on the back of some of Allan's business papers. This anecdote highlights Poe's devotion to poetry, suggesting a potential conflict between his artistic inclinations and the commercial world represented by Allan's business interests—a theme that reflects the tension between creativity and commerce in Poe's life that could have influenced his writing.