First published in 1839, “The Fall of the House of Usher” would become one of Edgar Allan Poe’s most celebrated works of Gothic fiction. The Pennsylvanian called it “a remarkable specimen… for those who love to dwell upon the terrible.” Washington Irving, one of the most respected writers of the era, praised the tale for “its powerful graphic effect.” With its brooding themes of isolation, madness, and decay, “Usher” helped establish Poe’s reputation as a master of literary horror.