This collection of Poe's work contains some of the most exciting and haunting tales ever written. They range from the poetic to the mysterious and the darkly comic, yet all possess the genius of the grotesque that defines Poe's writing. The stories are so alive with compelling mysteries, vibrant images and unforgettably tormented characters, that it is easy to associate Edgar Allan Poe solely with entertainment and forget that he was also one of the greatest innovators in modern literature. This volume contains all of Poe's "Tales of mystery and imagination" and "Tales of the grotesque and arabesque", and a selection of his poetry. The book is illustrated by several artists, including Aubrey Beardsley, Gustave Dore and Harry Clarke.

Author Biography

Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston in 1809. His parents, both touring actors, died before he was three. He was raised by John Allan, a prosperous Virginian merchant. Poe published his first volume of poetry while still a teenager. He worked as an editor for magazines in Philadelphia, Richmond and New York, and achieved respect as a literary critic. In 1836, he married his thirteen year-old cousin. It was only with the publication of The Raven and other Poems in 1845 that he achieved national fame as a writer. Poe died in mysterious circumstances in 1849.