Edgar Allan Poe was the possessor of one of the most original imaginations the world has ever known. The inventor of the modern detective story, a master of the tale of horror, a poet of haunting melody, Poe has influenced the literature of many countries from his day to the present.
Here, in one volume, are the masterpieces of mystery, terror, humor, and adventure, and the finest lyric and narrative poetry by a strange genius who was one of America’s supreme writers.
About the Author
Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849) is one of America's greatest and best-loved writers. Known as the father of the detective story, Poe is perhaps most famous for his short stories—particularly his shrewd mysteries and chilling, often grotesque tales of horror—he was also an extremely accomplished poet and a tough literary critic.
Poe's life was not far removed from the drama of his fictions. Orphaned at a young age, he was raised by a foster family. As a young man, he developed problems with gambling, debts, and alcohol, and was even dismissed from the army. His love life was marked by tragedy and heartbreak. Despite these difficulties, Poe produced many works now considered essential to the American literary canon--including the stories "The Tell-tale Heart," "The Pit and the Pendulum," "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," as well as classic poems such as "The Raven," "Annabel Lee," and "The Bells."
