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The Purloined Letter/Murders in Rue Morgue
Do your students enjoy a good laugh? Do they like to be scared? Or do they just like a book with a happy ending? No matter what their taste, our Creative Short Stories series has the answer.We've taken some of the world's best stories from dark, musty anthologies and brought them into the light, giving them the individual attention they deserve. Each book in the series has been designed with today's young reader in mind. As the words come to life, students will develop a lasting appreciation for great literature.
The humor of Mark Twain...the suspense of Edgar Allan Poe...the danger of Jack London...the sensitivity of Katherine Mansfield. Creative Short Stories has it all and will prove to be a welcome addition to any library.
The humor of Mark Twain...the suspense of Edgar Allan Poe...the danger of Jack London...the sensitivity of Katherine Mansfield. Creative Short Stories has it all and will prove to be a welcome addition to any library.
85 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1844
25 people are currently reading
392 people want to read
About the author
Edgar Allan Poe
9,816 books28.7k followersThe name Poe brings to mind images of murderers and madmen, premature burials, and mysterious women who return from the dead. His works have been in print since 1827 and include such literary classics as The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven, and The Fall of the House of Usher. This versatile writer’s oeuvre includes short stories, poetry, a novel, a textbook, a book of scientific theory, and hundreds of essays and book reviews. He is widely acknowledged as the inventor of the modern detective story and an innovator in the science fiction genre, but he made his living as America’s first great literary critic and theoretician. Poe’s reputation today rests primarily on his tales of terror as well as on his haunting lyric poetry.
Just as the bizarre characters in Poe’s stories have captured the public imagination so too has Poe himself. He is seen as a morbid, mysterious figure lurking in the shadows of moonlit cemeteries or crumbling castles. This is the Poe of legend. But much of what we know about Poe is wrong, the product of a biography written by one of his enemies in an attempt to defame the author’s name.
The real Poe was born to traveling actors in Boston on January 19, 1809. Edgar was the second of three children. His other brother William Henry Leonard Poe would also become a poet before his early death, and Poe’s sister Rosalie Poe would grow up to teach penmanship at a Richmond girls’ school. Within three years of Poe’s birth both of his parents had died, and he was taken in by the wealthy tobacco merchant John Allan and his wife Frances Valentine Allan in Richmond, Virginia while Poe’s siblings went to live with other families. Mr. Allan would rear Poe to be a businessman and a Virginia gentleman, but Poe had dreams of being a writer in emulation of his childhood hero the British poet Lord Byron. Early poetic verses found written in a young Poe’s handwriting on the backs of Allan’s ledger sheets reveal how little interest Poe had in the tobacco business.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_al...
Just as the bizarre characters in Poe’s stories have captured the public imagination so too has Poe himself. He is seen as a morbid, mysterious figure lurking in the shadows of moonlit cemeteries or crumbling castles. This is the Poe of legend. But much of what we know about Poe is wrong, the product of a biography written by one of his enemies in an attempt to defame the author’s name.
The real Poe was born to traveling actors in Boston on January 19, 1809. Edgar was the second of three children. His other brother William Henry Leonard Poe would also become a poet before his early death, and Poe’s sister Rosalie Poe would grow up to teach penmanship at a Richmond girls’ school. Within three years of Poe’s birth both of his parents had died, and he was taken in by the wealthy tobacco merchant John Allan and his wife Frances Valentine Allan in Richmond, Virginia while Poe’s siblings went to live with other families. Mr. Allan would rear Poe to be a businessman and a Virginia gentleman, but Poe had dreams of being a writer in emulation of his childhood hero the British poet Lord Byron. Early poetic verses found written in a young Poe’s handwriting on the backs of Allan’s ledger sheets reveal how little interest Poe had in the tobacco business.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_al...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
February 7, 2017
Les personnages principaux rappellent sans faute le tandem Sherlock et Watson. Si vous êtes un féru du genre vous apprécierez forcément l'énigme et le suspens dans lequel Edgar Poe fait baigner ses histoires.
June 28, 2009
These are classics of the genre. The first classics of the genre. Published in 1841, Murders in the Rue Morgue put on the foundations of the Detective genre. Rereading it made me aware of the whole Holmes vibe and I started to think about Doyle getting "inspired" and how writers, artists in our times are very much restraint in the ridiculous length of the copyright promoted by multinational corporations. But I digress. These and the Mary Roget story are a must read for any detective stories lovers. They are wonderful and if you can read them in French (I know translation!) but when the translation is done by one Charles Baudelaire you just might find that the translated stories are a work of art all of their own.
May 21, 2015
Tout simplement ingénieux! Un Sherlock Holmes à la française, je ne pourrais résumer les deux histoires sans "spoilers" donc, je ne ferais que les recommender pour les fans de polards et de mystères! Bonne lecture!
September 8, 2024
The First modern detective ever deserves praise. Poe is always a good read
August 20, 2024
These were definitely a nice read
July 16, 2021
4,5⭐️ (porque probablemente no podría releerlo las veces que quiera)
-
El como cuentan lo sucedido me encanta, la forma de “comparar” los juegos de mesa con el asesinato -no es para nada fuera de lugar- es más te da una visión diferente y más acertada creo yo. Te preparan mentalmente para este “crimen”.
Definitivamente me quedé pensando cuando leí que era “supuesto crimen”. Me dije -¿Cómo no va a ser un crimen? Han matado a dos personas.- Pues que equivocada estaba, me sentí un poco “usada” -de una buena manera- más que todo, me sentí engañada. Poe quería jugar con mi mente, y esta lo dejó. Yo misma me engañé de cierta manera. Y eso hace que un libro normal se convierta en “EL LIBRO”. Porque ¿Cómo unas cuantas palabras pueden hacerte imaginar un mundo distinto al que vives? Y sobre todo ¿Cómo pudo engañarte a ti, el lector?
Edgar Allan Poe me enseñó que el lector no siempre es el que sabe todo, es el que sabe lo que el autor quiere. Y en este caso te hace creer que sabes todo, cuando en realidad no sabes absolutamente nada.
El final: Plot Twist GIGANTE
En mi vida hubiera imaginado que en realidad un Orangután las halla matado EN MI VIDA me lo hubiera imaginado. Literalmente quedé petrificada, analizando todo lo ocurrido, y si era posible. Definitivamente era posible, pero no para mi sentido común. Y de eso me di cuenta con la última oración.
(Se me hizo un poco difícil leer las descripciones de las causas de muerte, sentí repudio y ganas de vomitar) Esa -creo yo- que sería la única razón por la que no la releería las veces que quisiera.
-
El como cuentan lo sucedido me encanta, la forma de “comparar” los juegos de mesa con el asesinato -no es para nada fuera de lugar- es más te da una visión diferente y más acertada creo yo. Te preparan mentalmente para este “crimen”.
Definitivamente me quedé pensando cuando leí que era “supuesto crimen”. Me dije -¿Cómo no va a ser un crimen? Han matado a dos personas.- Pues que equivocada estaba, me sentí un poco “usada” -de una buena manera- más que todo, me sentí engañada. Poe quería jugar con mi mente, y esta lo dejó. Yo misma me engañé de cierta manera. Y eso hace que un libro normal se convierta en “EL LIBRO”. Porque ¿Cómo unas cuantas palabras pueden hacerte imaginar un mundo distinto al que vives? Y sobre todo ¿Cómo pudo engañarte a ti, el lector?
Edgar Allan Poe me enseñó que el lector no siempre es el que sabe todo, es el que sabe lo que el autor quiere. Y en este caso te hace creer que sabes todo, cuando en realidad no sabes absolutamente nada.
El final: Plot Twist GIGANTE
En mi vida hubiera imaginado que en realidad un Orangután las halla matado EN MI VIDA me lo hubiera imaginado. Literalmente quedé petrificada, analizando todo lo ocurrido, y si era posible. Definitivamente era posible, pero no para mi sentido común. Y de eso me di cuenta con la última oración.
(Se me hizo un poco difícil leer las descripciones de las causas de muerte, sentí repudio y ganas de vomitar) Esa -creo yo- que sería la única razón por la que no la releería las veces que quisiera.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2018
Nowadays one of the most popular genres of TV series is the police. Every week we can watch dozens of episodes about crimes in different ways: from the most hideous to the most ordinary.
Literature is also full in this sense and when we look at the classics, we probably think of Agatha or Sherlock. But it is impressive, as if we look a little more at the past, we find still around the 1850s, the detective Dupin, idealized by Poe and that served as inspiration for the development of this genre.
For the delight of Poe's fans and to those who like this style of history, Poe's novel, beyond the unique and mystery-filled narrative, carries within itself not necessarily the solution of crime as in much of the detective literature, but detective psychology and the horror of the description of the murders which leads us to think of the heights that the imagination of Poe reached in a time without TV, cinema and the amount of information that one has today.
Perhaps the reader accustomed to the genre does not find the solution to the crime so mysterious, perhaps the ideal experience is to delve into the mood, to the atmosphere that Poe imbues in his stories and to notice how Detective Dupin is the grandfather of many detectives who came later.
Literature is also full in this sense and when we look at the classics, we probably think of Agatha or Sherlock. But it is impressive, as if we look a little more at the past, we find still around the 1850s, the detective Dupin, idealized by Poe and that served as inspiration for the development of this genre.
For the delight of Poe's fans and to those who like this style of history, Poe's novel, beyond the unique and mystery-filled narrative, carries within itself not necessarily the solution of crime as in much of the detective literature, but detective psychology and the horror of the description of the murders which leads us to think of the heights that the imagination of Poe reached in a time without TV, cinema and the amount of information that one has today.
Perhaps the reader accustomed to the genre does not find the solution to the crime so mysterious, perhaps the ideal experience is to delve into the mood, to the atmosphere that Poe imbues in his stories and to notice how Detective Dupin is the grandfather of many detectives who came later.
September 20, 2024
Une initiation à ce qu'Allan Poe appelle l'analyse, sur la base d'une enquête un peu loufoque. Cependant, bien que le livre soit recommandé à partir de 11 ans, je trouve que l'écriture est assez complexe, et les monologues parfois lourds, ce qui pourrait rendre la lecture difficile pour un jeune public. J'ai tout de même bien adhéré à la suite logique des réflexions, mais l'enquête en elle-même n'est pas très intéressante.
December 12, 2025
"Truth is not always in a well. In fact, as regards the more important knowledge, I do believe that she is invariably superficial."
I have read that these two stories are key originators of the detective story genre, so they were quite enjoyable to read for that appreciation. But I did not expect them to also be incredibly intellectual. I love a good fusion of grade-A storytelling with interesting philosophical musings.
I have read that these two stories are key originators of the detective story genre, so they were quite enjoyable to read for that appreciation. But I did not expect them to also be incredibly intellectual. I love a good fusion of grade-A storytelling with interesting philosophical musings.
September 7, 2023
Watching a trivia show, the answer was Edgar Allen Poe. I would have lost; I guessed Sherlock Holmes.
What did I think of the book? I probably liked it a lot. I can hardly recall every book I read, but I remember this because I had to look up the word "purloined" in the dictionary. Maybe I will see if library or Kindle has it, so I can read it again.
What did I think of the book? I probably liked it a lot. I can hardly recall every book I read, but I remember this because I had to look up the word "purloined" in the dictionary. Maybe I will see if library or Kindle has it, so I can read it again.
March 4, 2024
This book is really interesting. I enjoyed reading the novel. It's full of mystery and I love how Dupin solves mysteries. I disliked the description of the crime scene of the first novel, it was pretty realistic but scary
July 9, 2020
I really enjoyed both the Murders in the Rue Morgue and The Purloined letter. I enjoyed the unreliable characters in each of these stories. They both remind me of Sherlock Holmes and how the truth in crime can be manipulated or observations be limited to what people already know. This is the only Poe story I have read that includes a detective and what seems like the start of thousands of clever detective stories that have come after.
August 12, 2021
L'histoire que j'ai préféré de Edgar Allan pote, mets en place beaucoup de son univers, ceci dit il est est facile de deviner la fin et arrive un peu subitement mais ça reste sympa et rapide à lire !
January 31, 2024
a fucking orangutan?!
February 20, 2024
Intrigue pas très intéressante selon moi. J'avais très envie de faire dodo tout le long. Mais, c'est bien de savoir d'où vient le style du récit policier.
October 14, 2024
Monkey on the cover...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2024
Même si c'est bien écrit, et d'un style parfois très moderne, j'ai fait effort pour aller jusqu'au bout ! C'est terriblement bavard.
February 18, 2025
Pretty basic story, but the lit analysis was so mind opening…
I <3 Poe
I <3 Poe
August 28, 2025
I have submitted reviews for each title contained within this series set box after listening to the audiobook of this title.
September 5, 2025
AN ORANGUATAN? A FUCKING ORANGUTAN? POE???? WHAT????
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2025
Classic Gothic tale.
February 5, 2008
A interesting short story of the detective genre from the master of the macabre where a missing letter must be recovered, lest it compromise the French Queen. This one is surprising light on the macabre, though. The French police are unable to find the letter even after a thorough search of the suspect’s ministerial hotel. The letter is eventually secured and the balance of the story is spent revealing how the character Dupin was able to solve the mystery.
I especially enjoyed the aspects of the story which revealed that sometimes the simplest hiding places are the most effective. I also thoroughly enjoyed the idea that one can be very competent, but too much reliance upon rote methods can lead to errors and the missing of the obvious.
I especially enjoyed the aspects of the story which revealed that sometimes the simplest hiding places are the most effective. I also thoroughly enjoyed the idea that one can be very competent, but too much reliance upon rote methods can lead to errors and the missing of the obvious.
February 7, 2010
The protagonist drones on a bit too much for this to be awesome; it was also a bit predictable. I get the feeling that when this was written it wasn't very expected at all. For real fun and to be better informed read this as if the protagonist is a window to Poe's writing and he is explaining his art form to the reader. It's pretty awesome.
April 29, 2007
Poe was in many respects the first foot in the door with Horror, the detective story, and science fiction, and he ended up dying in the gutter. I could blame the absinthe, but in many areas of art it would seem the guy who's blazing the trail is the first to get taken out by the Indians.
July 16, 2014
I haven't needed to reread them, because these stories burned themselves into my brain when I read them at twelve. Maybe they don't hold up well, but they way I recall them, they're perfect and brilliant.
August 14, 2009
Edgar
May 16, 2010
clever and smart. This is a work of art. This detective will teach the reader a few things in this book and the outcome of these two stories will be a little weird and totally unexpected.
April 11, 2012
I really like these kinds of detective stories!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews