Born to an unfortunate heritage, orphaned, unsympathetically raised, and then abandoned, Edgar Allan Poe struggled for greatness in an adverse social and economic climate — a setting not improved by his fiery temperament and caustic criticism of others. Poe's melancholy brilliance, his passionate lyricism, and his tormented soul would make him one of the most widely read and original writers in American literature. Includes: The Tell-Tale Heart, The Cask of Amontillado, The Masque of the Red Death, The Raven, Annabel Lee, Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar, Ulalume, The Black Cat, The Bells, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Purloined Letter,and The Gold Bug.

“These stories unfold naturally while riveting the attention of the listener…”—Booklist