Revel in the sumptuous language of Edgar Allan Poe's best works. The Essential Tales & Poems of Edgar Allan Poe features key works, spanning from 1827 to his death in 1849, from the famous Gothic American writer, especially Poe's spine-chilling short stories and melodious poems. Included in this indispensable edition, with a new introduction by Daniel Stashower, are the short stories The Tell-Tale Heart, The Pit and the Pendulum, and The Murders in the Rue Morgue, as well as classic poems such as The Raven, Annabel Lee, and 'The Bells.

Author Biography

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 fiction. 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.Daniel Stashower is the author of The Beautiful Cigar Girl: Mary Rogers, Edgar Allan Poe, and the Invention of Murder.