This selection of Poe’s critical writing, short fiction, and poetry demonstrates his intense interest in aesthetic issues, and the astonishing power and imagination with which he probed the darkest corners of the human mind. ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ describes the final hours of a family tormented by tragedy and the legacy of the past. In ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’, a murderer’s insane delusion threaten to betray him, while stories such as ‘The Pit and the Pendulum’ and ‘The Cask of Amontillado’ explore extreme states of decadence, fear, and hate. These works display Poe’s startling ability to build suspense with almost nightmarish intensity.

David Galloway’s introduction re-examines the myths surrounding Poe’s life and reputation. This edition includes a new chronology and suggestion for further reading.

Paperback, 488 pages