Of all the preeminent 19th century American writers, Edgar Allan Poe staked out the most vivid reputation as a master of the macabre. Poe remains the first choice of entertainment for many who want a spine-chilling thrill.

A prolific writer of poetry and criticism in addition to fiction, Poe was known not only for the eerie beauty of his prose but his formidable satire. He is revered as one of the foremost American gothic stylists.

The best of Poe’s short fiction is collected here, including the timeless masterpieces “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Pit and the Pendulum,” and “The Masque of the Red Death.”