The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Volume 1

The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Volume 1 — Tales of Mystery and Imagination

The complete tales of the master of horror: "The Fall of the House of Usher," "The Masque of the Red Death," "The Pit and the Pendulum," "The Tell-Tale Heart," "The Cask of Amontillado," "The Black Cat," and more.

Historical Significance:
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) invented the detective story ("The Murders in the Rue Morgue"), pioneered science fiction, and perfected the horror tale — all while living in poverty, battling alcoholism, and mourning his young wife Virginia who died of tuberculosis. Poe's influence is immeasurable: Arthur Conan Doyle modeled Sherlock Holmes on Poe's C. Auguste Dupin; H.P. Lovecraft called him the patriarch of cosmic horror; Alfred Hitchcock acknowledged Poe as his primary inspiration. Baudelaire, who translated Poe into French, said "Poe was the literature of the United States." His tales remain the gold standard for atmospheric horror.

This public domain classic collects works published before 1849. Free to read and share.