Since their first publication in the 1830s and 1840s, Edgar Allan Poe's
extraordinary Gothic tales have established themselves as classics of
horror fiction and have also created many of the conventions which
still dominate the genre of detective fiction. As well as being highly
enjoyable, Poe's tales are works of very real intellectual exploration.
Attentive to the historical and political dimensions of these very
American tales, this new selection places the most popular - "The Fall
of the House of Usher", "The Masque of the Red Death", "The Murders in
the Rue Morgue"; and "The Purloined Letter" - alongside less well-known
travel narratives, metaphysical essays and political satires.
Since their first publication in the 1830s and 1840s, Edgar Allan Poe's extraordinary Gothic tales have established themselves as classics of horror fiction and have also created many of the conventions which still dominate the genre of detective fiction. As well as being highly enjoyable, Poe's tales are works of very real intellectual exploration. Attentive to the historical and political dimensions of these very American tales, this new selection places the most popular - "The Fall of the House of Usher", "The Masque of the Red Death", "The Murders in the Rue Morgue"; and "The Purloined Letter" - alongside less well-known travel narratives, metaphysical essays and political satires.
Edgar Allan Poe (1809 – 49), was born in Boston, USA. His parents were actors but both suffered from tuberculosis and died in 1811. The two-year-old Edgar was taken in by John Allan, a wealthy merchant – hence the middle name. He had a very happy childhood as the only child of a rich family. He did well at school, especially in languages and athletics. In 1926 Edgar went to the University of Virginia. In his first term her did no work, spending his time on wine, women and song! He had a huge row with his step-father and ran away to join the army. A few years later Mrs Allan begged her husband to find him and make up the quarrel. This happened but the two men never managed to have a good relationship again. When his wife died, John Allan remarried and his new wife hated Edgar. So, by 1831 he was out in the world, alone and broke.
Edgar was by now writing poetry but with little success. He did find a new family, an aunt and married her fourteen-year-old daughter...
