Experience one of Poe’s classics with crisp, clear audio. Listen to our whole collection of Poe’s top stories: The Black Cat, The Cask of Amontillado, The Raven, The Tell-Tale Heart, The Pit and the Pendulum, and The Fall of the House of Usher. Orange Island Book Shop is proud to present Edgar Allan Poe’s classic tales like you’ve never heard them before.
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"I love Poe, and this story is one of the few short stories I remember from high school. I teach it to my freshmen now, and they love the eerie, unforgetable denouement. What I love about it is Poe's clever use of irony, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a clever story full of surprise."
— Shanna (4 out of 5 stars)
" One of my favorite Poe's! The symbolism screams at the reader from carnival to alcove. "
— Laura, 2/9/2014" Loved the irony used in the story, dark humor is effective to the story. Confusing at first, but after further discussion, understood at a different level. "
— Erika, 2/5/2014" I probably just have bad taste, but this short story was rather boring in my opinion, although the end was good. "
— Joel, 2/4/2014" Possibly the greatest American author, I would read any and all Poe. Just as good on the 15th time through. "
— Loftus3b, 2/2/2014" I originally read this short story in grade 10, but Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles makes reference to it, and I had to read it again. It is still quite creepy. "
— Lindsey, 1/26/2014" This is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe. It's a very quick read. The narrator takes a deadly revenge on someone he believes insulted him. I did have to use the dictionary a couple of times,but it was still a great read. Chilling. "
— Alicia, 1/18/2014" this is the best story of revenge ever ever ever. "
— Anna, 1/17/2014" This is the first short story by Poe that I read... I instantly fell in love with his writing. Everyone must read this at least once in their lives. "
— Cari, 1/16/2014" My absolute favorite of Poe's short stories. "
— Christine, 12/26/2013" My favorite short story by Poe. It really blows your mind. "
— Caitlin, 12/18/2013" I love the humor in this story. It's not apparent the first time you read it, but go back through it and it's hysterical! Well, hysterical in a dark, morbid way. One of my favorite Poe stories. "
— Molly, 12/17/2013" Toby Keith's "It's a Little Too Late" video was inspired by this story. One guy gets another guy drunk and builds a wall in the basement that basically closes the drunk inside with no way out, and then seals him inside and leaves him to rot! Cool! "
— Ted, 12/8/2013" So good - I've read this countless times in college. I feel like half the English classes I took had us read this : ) "
— Nicole, 10/30/2013" Just a short story, but genius!! Such a great writer! "
— Ashley, 5/6/2013" LOVE POE! He is fantastic: dark, macabre, thrilling and not too gross if you want a good, scary story! Highly recommend it, although I am not sure if it is for EVERYONE. "
— Ines, 4/2/2013" So evil I loved it :) "
— Lindsey, 1/22/2013" A deliciously chilling tale of a revenge that far exceeds the small offenses which motivated it. "
— Dan, 11/30/2012" This is hands down one of my top five favorite short stories. "
— Kerry, 10/26/2012" I seem to reread this classic short story every few years, and it always retains its freshness. What an atmosphere of foreboding Poe is able to conjure with so few words. As much is communicated by what he does not say as by what he does. "
— Bruce, 10/11/2012" It Poe and another of his ideas of an interesting death. "
— Celeste, 9/1/2012" soo poe! loved it, all I could feel the moist and the smell! "
— Adriana, 4/19/2012" My favorite Poe story. Honest dark human nature! "
— Bonnie, 3/28/2012" I wouldn't want to piss Montresor off! Lol! "
— Jennifer, 11/10/2011" A chilling story. Revenge at its very best. The whole story is very dark and disturbing (that's normally how I feel when I read Poe's works). But that's what Poe does best - Gothic horror. "
— Ee-Ling, 8/6/2011Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1848) transformed the American literary landscape with his innovations in the short story genre and his haunting lyrical poetry, and he is credited with inventing American gothic horror and detective fiction. He was first published in 1827 and then began a career as a magazine writer and editor and a sharp literary critic. In 1845 the publication of his most famous poem, “The Raven,” brought him national fame.