The Works of Edgar Allan Poe

The Works of Edgar Allan Poe

Volume II

The Raven Edition

Complete

CLASSIC GOTHIC HORROR

The works of American author Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 - October 7, 1849) include many poems, short stories, and one novel. His fiction spans multiple genres, including horror fiction, adventure, science fiction, and detective fiction, a genre he is credited with inventing. These works are generally considered part of the Dark romanticism movement, a literary reaction to Transcendentalism. Poe's writing reflects his literary theories: he disagreed with didacticism and allegory. Meaning in literature, he said in his criticism, should be an undercurrent just beneath the surface; works whose meanings are too obvious cease to be art. Poe pursued originality in his works, and disliked proverbs. He often included elements of popular pseudosciences such as phrenology and physiognomy. His most recurring themes deal with questions of death, including its physical signs, the effects of decomposition, concerns of premature burial, the reanimation of the dead, and mourning. Though known as a masterly practitioner of Gothic fiction, Poe did not invent the genre; he was following a long-standing popular tradition.



CONTENTS

THE PURLOINED LETTERTHE THOUSAND-AND-SECOND TALE OF SCHEHERAZADEA DESCENT INTO THE MAELSTRÖM. VON KEMPELEN AND HIS DISCOVERYMESMERIC REVELATIONTHE FACTS IN THE CASE OF M. VALDEMARTHE BLACK CAT. THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHERSILENCE--A FABLETHE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH. THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO. THE IMP OF THE PERVERSETHE ISLAND OF THE FAYTHE ASSIGNATIONTHE PIT AND THE PENDULUMTHE PREMATURE BURIALTHE DOMAIN OF ARNHEIMLANDOR'S COTTAGEWILLIAM WILSONTHE TELL-TALE HEART. BERENICEELEONORA