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The Essential Tales & Poems of Edgar Allan Poe
Revel in the sumptuous language of Edgar Allan Poe's best works.
The Essential Tales & Poems of Edgar Allan Poe features key works, spanning from 1827 to his death in 1849, from the famous Gothic American writer, especially Poe's spine-chilling short stories and melodious poems. Included in this indispensable edition, with a new introduction by Daniel Stashower, are the short stories "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Pit and the Pendulum," and "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," as well as classic poems such as "The Raven," Annabel Lee," and 'The Bells.
The Knickerbocker Classics bring together the works of classic authors from around the world in stunning gift editions to be collected and enjoyed. Complete and unabridged, these elegantly designed cloth-bound hardcovers feature a slipcase and ribbon marker, as well as a comprehensive introduction providing the reader with enlightening information on the author's life and works.
The Essential Tales & Poems of Edgar Allan Poe features key works, spanning from 1827 to his death in 1849, from the famous Gothic American writer, especially Poe's spine-chilling short stories and melodious poems. Included in this indispensable edition, with a new introduction by Daniel Stashower, are the short stories "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Pit and the Pendulum," and "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," as well as classic poems such as "The Raven," Annabel Lee," and 'The Bells.
The Knickerbocker Classics bring together the works of classic authors from around the world in stunning gift editions to be collected and enjoyed. Complete and unabridged, these elegantly designed cloth-bound hardcovers feature a slipcase and ribbon marker, as well as a comprehensive introduction providing the reader with enlightening information on the author's life and works.
517 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 10, 2015
101 people are currently reading
1404 people want to read
About the author
Edgar Allan Poe
9,831 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 33 reviews
June 29, 2021
No need to say how influential was Edgar Allan Poe. His mysterious, enigmatic, macabre and charnel stories influenced both styles of authors and tastes of readers. And even time couldn’t tarnish his tales.
Edgar Allan Poe really could strike terror into reader’s heart…
Fear sees danger everywhere… Terror magnifies objects…
Fear hath many eyes and can see things underground…
Edgar Allan Poe really could strike terror into reader’s heart…
The room within which they found themselves proved to be the shop of an undertaker; but an open trap-door, in a corner of the floor near the entrance, looked down upon a long range of wine-cellars, whose depths the occasional sound of bursting bottles proclaimed to be well stored with their appropriate contents. In the middle of the room stood a table – in the centre of which again arose a huge tub of what appeared to be punch. Bottles of various wines and cordials, together with jugs, pitchers, and flagons of every shape and quality, were scattered profusely upon the board. Around it, upon coffin-tressels, was seated a company of six.
Fear sees danger everywhere… Terror magnifies objects…
But the chief peculiarity of this horrible thing was the representation of a Death’s Head, which covered nearly the whole surface of its breast, and which was as accurately traced in glaring white, upon the dark ground of the body, as if it had been there carefully designed by an artist. While I regarded this terrific animal, and more especially the appearance on its breast, with a feeling of horror and awe – with a sentiment of forthcoming evil, which I found it impossible to quell by any effort of the reason, I perceived the huge jaws at the extremity of the proboscis suddenly expand themselves, and from them there proceeded a sound so loud and so expressive of woe, that it struck upon my nerves like a knell, and as the monster disappeared at the foot of the hill, I fell at once, fainting, to the floor.
Fear hath many eyes and can see things underground…
June 3, 2019
“‘Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!’
Quoth the Raven, ’Nevermore’”
edgar, you spooky bitch, you have captured my heart and pervaded my nightmares. this collection is deliciously written, with haunting contemplations on the darker side of human nature.
fav short stories and poems include:
◦ a descent into the maesltröm
◦ the fall of the house of usher
◦ the black cat
◦ hop-frog
◦ ligeia
◦ the raven
◦ annabel lee
◦ the conqueror worm
Quoth the Raven, ’Nevermore’”
edgar, you spooky bitch, you have captured my heart
fav short stories and poems include:
◦ a descent into the maesltröm
◦ the fall of the house of usher
◦ the black cat
◦ hop-frog
◦ ligeia
◦ the raven
◦ annabel lee
◦ the conqueror worm
April 29, 2013
Ok, so I guess I'm taking a break from this. I managed to read half of it, and I guess I'll resume it in a year or so, when the mood returns. I can only say that I really liked what I've read so far. Poe is pretty fucked up in the head and I admire him for that.
Read
March 31, 2021I haven’t read all of this collection as Poe’s work is one I find best to come back to at different times. This bind-up includes:
Tales:
MS. Found In A Bottle - 2 stars
A Descent Into the Maelstrom - 2 stars
The Gold-Bug - 2 stars
The Facts In The Case Of M. Valdemar - 4 stars
The Murders In Rue Morgue - 3 stars—the mystery was weird but Dupin is SUCH a fun character to follow lol
The Fall Of the House Of Usher - 4 stars
The Purloined Letter - 3 stars—again, Dupin is so funny
The Tell-Tale Heart - 4 stars
The Black Cat - 3 stars
The Imp Of the Perverse
The Premature Burial
The Cask Of Amontillado - 2 stars. What even is this story
The Pit and the Pendulum - 2 stars. This one bores me soooo much
The Masque Of the Red Death - 4.5 stars — my favorite so far !!
The Man of the Crowd
Hop-Frog
William Wilson
Ligeia - 3 stars
Morella
Mertzengerstein
The Narrative Of A. Gordon Pym
Poems:
Tamerlane — I loved this more this time
To Helen — a favorite!!
The Raven — a favorite!!
Ulalume
Annabel Lee — a favorite!!
The Bells — a favorite!!
The Conqueror Worm
The City in the Sea
A Dream Within A Dream — my favorite!!!
Eldorado — a favorite!!
I’d read all of Poe’s poetry, but none of his short stories. I really enjoyed some of his stories, and some I enjoyed less. I loved reading some of the works that went onto inspire later classics (Poe’s Inspector Dupin inspired Sherlock Holmes). Reading the man who inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Jules Verne, and the genres of mystery and horror as we know them was really cool. But to tell the truth, reading Poe’s poetry is always my favorite. I don’t think his prose illustrates his way with words as well as his poetry does. I can’t wait to explore more of his works!
Tales:
MS. Found In A Bottle - 2 stars
A Descent Into the Maelstrom - 2 stars
The Gold-Bug - 2 stars
The Facts In The Case Of M. Valdemar - 4 stars
The Murders In Rue Morgue - 3 stars—the mystery was weird but Dupin is SUCH a fun character to follow lol
The Fall Of the House Of Usher - 4 stars
The Purloined Letter - 3 stars—again, Dupin is so funny
The Tell-Tale Heart - 4 stars
The Black Cat - 3 stars
The Imp Of the Perverse
The Premature Burial
The Cask Of Amontillado - 2 stars. What even is this story
The Pit and the Pendulum - 2 stars. This one bores me soooo much
The Masque Of the Red Death - 4.5 stars — my favorite so far !!
The Man of the Crowd
Hop-Frog
William Wilson
Ligeia - 3 stars
Morella
Mertzengerstein
The Narrative Of A. Gordon Pym
Poems:
Tamerlane — I loved this more this time
To Helen — a favorite!!
The Raven — a favorite!!
Ulalume
Annabel Lee — a favorite!!
The Bells — a favorite!!
The Conqueror Worm
The City in the Sea
A Dream Within A Dream — my favorite!!!
Eldorado — a favorite!!
I’d read all of Poe’s poetry, but none of his short stories. I really enjoyed some of his stories, and some I enjoyed less. I loved reading some of the works that went onto inspire later classics (Poe’s Inspector Dupin inspired Sherlock Holmes). Reading the man who inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Jules Verne, and the genres of mystery and horror as we know them was really cool. But to tell the truth, reading Poe’s poetry is always my favorite. I don’t think his prose illustrates his way with words as well as his poetry does. I can’t wait to explore more of his works!
January 1, 2021
“Essential Tales and Poems: Edgar Allen Poe” edited by Stefan Dziemianowicz
Due to lack of characters, I can only review a few.
“The Raven” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Poe brilliantly captures the mental state of a loved one left behind on earth who has trouble deciding whether or not to let things die. Poe’s rhyming scheme in this narrative poem is one of my favorites and incredible easy to get into. Each line flows like a pen writing on paper, only to break contact by starting the next line.
“The Fall of the House of Usher” ⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Shadow—A Parable” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Silence—A Fable” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“The Black Cat” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Brilliant story of a man’s decent into madness set upon by alcoholism and animal cruelty. The superstitious-ness of a black cat can drive anyone into paranoia, but here is it show as an extreme. I feel like the black cat symbolizes the narrators need for love and attention but he is not satisfied with it so he kills it in order to feel something. Unfortunately, he doesn’t and replacing the cat only made things worse. The only time the narrator is actually able to feel anything is when he murders his wife. And even then, the euphoria that came from her death eventually gave him away.
“The Murders and the Rue Morgue” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dupin’s deduction is on another level.
“The Tell-Tale Heart” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This has always been and continues to be my favorite Poe story. The obsession with the man’s eye that eventually is the reason for his death is so brilliant because people have killed for less. What really strikes me this read around was how similar it is to “The Black Cat” in terms of the Narrators Ego and how it gets to the better of him and ultimately serves as their downfalls. Love it.
Due to lack of characters, I can only review a few.
“The Raven” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Poe brilliantly captures the mental state of a loved one left behind on earth who has trouble deciding whether or not to let things die. Poe’s rhyming scheme in this narrative poem is one of my favorites and incredible easy to get into. Each line flows like a pen writing on paper, only to break contact by starting the next line.
“The Fall of the House of Usher” ⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Shadow—A Parable” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Silence—A Fable” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“The Black Cat” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Brilliant story of a man’s decent into madness set upon by alcoholism and animal cruelty. The superstitious-ness of a black cat can drive anyone into paranoia, but here is it show as an extreme. I feel like the black cat symbolizes the narrators need for love and attention but he is not satisfied with it so he kills it in order to feel something. Unfortunately, he doesn’t and replacing the cat only made things worse. The only time the narrator is actually able to feel anything is when he murders his wife. And even then, the euphoria that came from her death eventually gave him away.
“The Murders and the Rue Morgue” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dupin’s deduction is on another level.
“The Tell-Tale Heart” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This has always been and continues to be my favorite Poe story. The obsession with the man’s eye that eventually is the reason for his death is so brilliant because people have killed for less. What really strikes me this read around was how similar it is to “The Black Cat” in terms of the Narrators Ego and how it gets to the better of him and ultimately serves as their downfalls. Love it.
October 24, 2017
Short stories: 4 Stars
Novel: 3 Stars
Poems: 3.5 Stars
RTC
Novel: 3 Stars
Poems: 3.5 Stars
RTC
March 30, 2016
I finally finished this collection of Edgar Allan Poe's Poems, Tales, and his one and only novel The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym.
Overall, I only found the poems worthwhile. This book had about 15 of his poems, and I found that I enjoyed them more than the tales and the novel at the end.
Poe's tales I can only describe as "merely interesting". There are some clever stories like the Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Tell-Tale Heart, and Thou Art the Man, to name a few. However, most of them to me were forgettable, and not very enjoyable at all.
The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym was entertaining but admittedly, I DNF it completely, but got most of the way through it. It is a story of mutiny, shipwreck, cannibalism, but then it goes into exploring the South Pole and Antarctica and that is where it got tedious for me so I skimmed ahead to the end and then read a plot summary of the end of the novel.
Poe is supposed to be the American father of the mystery novel but his mystery stories weren't all that good. I wish I could say more positive things about Poe and this book, and 3 stars may be too high of a rating, but the poems are of high quality and I do recommend them, but that is probably the only recommendation I would make.
To sum up this review, I can at least now say that I have read a good amount of Poe's works...
Overall, I only found the poems worthwhile. This book had about 15 of his poems, and I found that I enjoyed them more than the tales and the novel at the end.
Poe's tales I can only describe as "merely interesting". There are some clever stories like the Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Tell-Tale Heart, and Thou Art the Man, to name a few. However, most of them to me were forgettable, and not very enjoyable at all.
The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym was entertaining but admittedly, I DNF it completely, but got most of the way through it. It is a story of mutiny, shipwreck, cannibalism, but then it goes into exploring the South Pole and Antarctica and that is where it got tedious for me so I skimmed ahead to the end and then read a plot summary of the end of the novel.
Poe is supposed to be the American father of the mystery novel but his mystery stories weren't all that good. I wish I could say more positive things about Poe and this book, and 3 stars may be too high of a rating, but the poems are of high quality and I do recommend them, but that is probably the only recommendation I would make.
To sum up this review, I can at least now say that I have read a good amount of Poe's works...
March 30, 2020
I struggled to understand what "The Raven" was all about, or what it signified.
I'd heard it described as a frightening poem; as something written in order to cause fear. Now, I know that's not true.
This isn't a horror poem. This is a lament, which just happens to include some disturbing elements for emphasis.
Poe is writing from the perspective of a man who has lost the love of his life, Lenore by name, and is in the depths of despair over the loss and is trying to deal with it, but is losing the battle.
In the end, he tries to dismiss his grief, only to have it set up residence permanently in his soul.
And that is what "The Raven" is all about: Being overcome by grief.
I'd heard it described as a frightening poem; as something written in order to cause fear. Now, I know that's not true.
This isn't a horror poem. This is a lament, which just happens to include some disturbing elements for emphasis.
Poe is writing from the perspective of a man who has lost the love of his life, Lenore by name, and is in the depths of despair over the loss and is trying to deal with it, but is losing the battle.
In the end, he tries to dismiss his grief, only to have it set up residence permanently in his soul.
And that is what "The Raven" is all about: Being overcome by grief.
October 18, 2023
Had on my shelf for awhile decided to knock it out. Honestly can’t recall the last time I read EAP, but pleasantly enjoyed most of the stories included in this collection. The darker stories just aren’t really my thing but I can still l appreciate great writing. Really enjoyed the Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket.
May 28, 2020
More like: 3 1/2 🌟
This is technically for the handful of tales and the one poem I read (The Raven, of course).
I'm just not poetry minded, so I don't feel like I can critique it. But the rhythm of "The Raven" makes it enjoyable to read. And I do have an understanding of the message.
The Tales on the other hand, I just don't think Poe is for me. Of course I read "The Tell-tale Heart". And maybe I shouldn't have gone in with the preconceived notion it was a full-fledged plot, but I was disappointed to discover it was just 3 or 4 pages of the ramblings of a madman.
It was worded well, and I can grasp the glimpse of the psyche Poe obviously strove for in his work. But still, I would have enjoyed it more wrapped in a plot.
My take on it;
As for the other Tales I read, very short stories or just single scenes don't really work for me. I need more to go on.
It a appears that there are longer Tales in this collection (Barnes & Nobel edition The Essential Tales and Poems), assuming with more plot. So if and when I get to those I might change my rating and review.
But as of right now, this book sitting on my "currently-reading" shelf is haunting me. (Ironic, huh?)
Don't get me wrong, Poe is talented. But maybe he's just not what I'm looking for.
December 10, 2021
5/5 stars. This took me most of 2021 (literally, January to December) to get through, because I would read a story or two and then come back to it a few weeks later for another little bite. I’m glad I did, because with Poe’s….how can I put this?…propensity for loquaciousness, I would have wanted to have shot either him or myself if I had read most of his canon without taking breaks. I really enjoyed this for the most part, with the odd tale or poem here or there which didn’t really do it for me. There were some lines in particularly which really stood out for me, including the most chilling of the lot for me, upon espying the teeth of the departed Berenice:
“Would to God that I had never beheld them, or that, having done so, I had died!”
“Would to God that I had never beheld them, or that, having done so, I had died!”
January 1, 2025
4.0/5!
Considering this is a compilation of Poe's work, I found each to vary in quality and style, as well as in my own enjoyment. I was happy to read some of my favorites from school a long time ago, and also discover others as well, while others did take a bit more time to work through. Nevertheless, definitely enjoyed my time overall, and do plan to revisit it in the future.
Considering this is a compilation of Poe's work, I found each to vary in quality and style, as well as in my own enjoyment. I was happy to read some of my favorites from school a long time ago, and also discover others as well, while others did take a bit more time to work through. Nevertheless, definitely enjoyed my time overall, and do plan to revisit it in the future.
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
October 28, 2020
My favorite poems are; the Raven and El Derado! All his poems are unique and excellent!
December 12, 2020
Poe is one of the greatest American authors. You've probably read the Raven in school, but all of his short stories are amazing. And his poems-dazzling.
September 20, 2022
Good Halloween read.
October 19, 2022
There's not much to say about this. Poe is an amazing writer and this book contains his best works! It was so fun to read for Halloween.
dnf
November 29, 2022It's only DNF because his detective stories are just not for me. I love the first half of the book, the tales of the macbre.
May 28, 2024
My favorite author
April 6, 2020
Hey, I talk about this book in my March 2020 wrap-up over on booktube. Feel free to check it out!
December 3, 2018
Loved some stories and poems in here, others didn't interest me at all. Here are my rating for every individual story:
Tales
Ms. Found In A Bottle - 2 stars
A Descent Into The Maelström - DNF'd this one, 1 star
The Gold-Bug - 2 stars
The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar - 3 stars
The Murders in the Rue Morgue - 3 stars
The Fall of the House of Usher - 4 stars
The Purloined Letter - 3 stars
The Tell-Tale Heart - 5 stars
The Black Cat - 5 stars *trigger warning for animal abuse*
The Imp of the Perverse - 2 stars
The Premature Burial - 2 stars
The Cask of Amontillado - 5 stars, my favorite in the entire collection
The Pit and the Pendulum - 3 stars
The Masque of the Red Death - 3 1/2 stars
The Man of the Crowd - 2 stars
Hop-Frog - 4 stars
William Wilson - 4 stars
Ligeia - 2 stars
Morella - 3 1/2 stars
Metzengerstein - 3 stars
The Narrative of A. Gordon Pym - Skipped this one (Poe’s only novel), will probably go back and read it at a later date
Poems
Tamerlane - 3 1/2 stars
To Helen - 2 stars
The Raven - 5 stars
Ulalume - 3 stars
Annabel Lee - 5 stars
The Bells - 3 stars
The Conqueror Worm - 2 stars
The City In The Sea - 4 stars
A Dream Within A Dream - 3 stars
Eldorado - 3 1/2 stars
Tales
Ms. Found In A Bottle - 2 stars
A Descent Into The Maelström - DNF'd this one, 1 star
The Gold-Bug - 2 stars
The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar - 3 stars
The Murders in the Rue Morgue - 3 stars
The Fall of the House of Usher - 4 stars
The Purloined Letter - 3 stars
The Tell-Tale Heart - 5 stars
The Black Cat - 5 stars *trigger warning for animal abuse*
The Imp of the Perverse - 2 stars
The Premature Burial - 2 stars
The Cask of Amontillado - 5 stars, my favorite in the entire collection
The Pit and the Pendulum - 3 stars
The Masque of the Red Death - 3 1/2 stars
The Man of the Crowd - 2 stars
Hop-Frog - 4 stars
William Wilson - 4 stars
Ligeia - 2 stars
Morella - 3 1/2 stars
Metzengerstein - 3 stars
The Narrative of A. Gordon Pym - Skipped this one (Poe’s only novel), will probably go back and read it at a later date
Poems
Tamerlane - 3 1/2 stars
To Helen - 2 stars
The Raven - 5 stars
Ulalume - 3 stars
Annabel Lee - 5 stars
The Bells - 3 stars
The Conqueror Worm - 2 stars
The City In The Sea - 4 stars
A Dream Within A Dream - 3 stars
Eldorado - 3 1/2 stars
November 26, 2021
I cannot remember exactly when I first discovered Poe, but it was probably when I either heard or read The Raven. I remember being completely enraptured with the creepy tale of sorrow and loss wrapped in the haunting idea of a raven that confirms your worst fears regarding a loved one. From The Raven, I quickly moved on to Annabel Lee which I also adored.
Being the creepy, goth teenager I was, Poe quickly became one of my favorite authors. Over the years, I've read almost everything he's ever written. This beautiful collection was a gift from my life partner which made it even more special. Given that it was the lovely spooky season, I read through this collection during the perfect time for it.
I loved my return to Poe's writing and thoroughly enjoyed each story and poem.
Being the creepy, goth teenager I was, Poe quickly became one of my favorite authors. Over the years, I've read almost everything he's ever written. This beautiful collection was a gift from my life partner which made it even more special. Given that it was the lovely spooky season, I read through this collection during the perfect time for it.
I loved my return to Poe's writing and thoroughly enjoyed each story and poem.
December 22, 2016
Ohhhh, yeah, I love me some Poe. What on Earth is there to say that hasn't already been said? His genius: his skillful narrative that slowly and like nothing else builds unease into fear and then absolute dread. Without showmanship, extreme gore, or any unnecessary idiocy or flourish like the modern horror travesties. My personal favorites, by which I mean the ones that strike with absolute unparalleled horror at my heart, are "The Masque of the Red Death," "The Fall of the House of Usher," and "The Pit and the Pendulum." I think Poe only needs to use our fear of the chilling, twisted potential of the human soul and of stark, abrupt mortality in all its truth to terrify us. And he does, to masterful effect.
June 24, 2013
This took me quite some time to work through while reading in the breakroom, but it was well worth the effort. I did find I much preferred his poetry to his prose, and was disappointed by how little of this ended up being poetry. He had a really beautiful, lyrical style with his poetry. This style does crop up sometimes in his prose, but it just isn't quite the same.
Still, lots of creepiness and the scenes he set were really quite amazing at times. Definitely a must-read for fans of chilling stories.
Still, lots of creepiness and the scenes he set were really quite amazing at times. Definitely a must-read for fans of chilling stories.
July 23, 2015
2.5 stars, to be honest. Really could not get into Poe's collection. The well known stories were mostly good, with Fall Of The House of Usher being my favorite. But the others ranged from crazy to crazy-but-boring. The Arthur Gordon Pym story saved it at the end, and even that was hard to follow at times, though I did like how it slowly went from a survival at sea tale to just plain bizarre.
Currently reading
October 6, 2016I have not gotten very far in the book yet, however, I rather enjoyed the introduction that is a brief biography of Edgar Allan Poe.
The down-side to this book is its actual print. It is rather small and not very dark, which makes it difficult for me to read it in my favorite spot. Which is in bed before going to sleep.
The down-side to this book is its actual print. It is rather small and not very dark, which makes it difficult for me to read it in my favorite spot. Which is in bed before going to sleep.
Want to read
September 27, 2010taking a break from Poe......
October 25, 2012
Spooky!
December 4, 2015
I don't think I have ever read Poe before. The language is hard to get into at first, but the writing was wonderful and the stories well crafted.
April 18, 2016
I have a much better understanding of the author after reading his work...LOVED IT! Poe was a very talented writer and truly knew his craft! Very impressive!
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