The best part was when the man killed his wife and then he took out the eye of the cat.We like the ending because the cat took revenge. Good for the black cat!

An almost cryptic tale about an alcoholic who goes mad and attacks his cat, the start of several horrid events that happen in this short story. What makes this tale the more creepier; Poe himself was an alcoholic.

This book is about an alcoholic and what happens to his life after he gets hooked on "the drink." It's a very morbid and suspenseful story

Edgar Allan Poe: A To Z is a comprehensive, detailed, superbly organized and presented reference to the life and work of the man who invented the modern detective story and horror genres in American literature. Poe was also a prolific literary critic and editor of several periodicals of the day in which he published his reviews, essays, and articles. Edgar Allan Poe: A To Z features more than 3,400 entries ranging from synopses of his tales, poetry and critical works; to descriptions of his characters; to background information on family, friends and associates; to discussion of his influence on Baudelair and other French poets; to film, musical, and theatrical adaptions of his works; to places that influenced and affected his life and work ranging from Baltimore to New York City. Edgar Allan Poe: A To Z is an essential, highly recommended reference for academic library collections and features a chronology of Poe's life and work; a select bibliography; and a listing of Poe research collections in the United Sates. The informative text is enhanced with photographs and illustrations.

Es uno de los mejores libro que he visto hasta el momento en lo referente a recopilacion de hechos de la vida de POE. Analiza cada una de las posibles referencias que ayudan a comprender mejor la vida del Genio que fué Edgar Allan Poe.

I'm really happy with the book. Accurate with all the information... the book show us a lot of anecdotes about how was the genius life and a different kind of pleasant biography.

I read this book because Hervey Allen is one of my all-time favorite authors. This book was immensely fascinating, not only due to Allen's writing style (very readable and down-to-earth), but also due to the subject of Poe. I greatly enjoyed this entire book, and would very highly recommend it to anyone interested in either Allen or Poe. The book is difficult to find...I got it from Ebay for a very reasonable price, with dust jacket.

Yes, it's true! Hervey Allen's "Israfel" is a must-read for any Poe-Lover. He paints a wonderful portrait of the tormented & brilliant Edgar. It's also a fantastic history of the era. Even if you've already read a dozen biographies on Poe, this is the one you won't want to miss! Trust me as a life-long and loyal fan of the Fabulous Edgar.

Much has been written about Edgar Allen Poe, but this classic biography offers a uniquely literary perspective on Poe. Written by the in the 1920s by Hervey Allen who later became well known for his epic novel, Anthony Adverse, Israfel was the first definitve biography of Poe and has been a foundational reference for all biographies written since. It has the added dimension of a biography written in the same general era that Poe lived thus, perhaps, telling us as much about that era as it does about Poe.

I was on my way to pick up my parents at the train station when I turned on National Public Radio and caught this reading of "Masque of the Red Death." I was instantly mesmerized (remarkable for a station surfer such as myself). In fact, I immediately called my husband on the cell phone and made him turn it on at home. And, when my parents finally made it to the car, I shushed them and we all listened to it, with rapt attention, on the way back to my house. I can't remember the last time radio has caught my attention in such a fashion. I am going to buy several of these to play for my daughter when she gets older.

the book was awesome! I have a question to anyone out there who will answer it. In the story certain words are capitalized that really shouldn't be. Such as Time and Beauty. WHY? If anyone knows, drop me a line. NIKKICELLO@excite.com

I love Edgar Allan Poe's work, but this would have to be the best because of all the symbols he uses in his style of writing. Most of his work deals with the dark-side of reality and fiction, and I love it.

This poem is a fascinating example of the poetic genius of Poe. While it is often thought of as a poem for younger readers, anyone who appreciates the subtle tragedy that is Poe will be deeply moved by this piece - in fact, only a muture reader can fully appreciate all of its' complexity. A must for any fan of Poe, good poetry, American literature, or just plain good writing. Furthermore, you don't have to be a scholar to appreciate this one. Its' appeal is universal, and its' understandability is high. It's just a darn good read.

this is one of poe's greatest poems. there is so much love in his words for his wife (who the poem was intended for but he changed her name to Annabel Lee). A must read!

very very good, no jargon, analytical, no genuflection to postmodernist shibboleths, packed with ideas,

A model of interdisciplinary/literary scholarship. The prose is lucid and informative, the ideas innovative, and the overall effect of a densely packed but readable study.

Edgar Allan Poe sure does something with writting and reality that all of us would like to do. He is able to write all autobiographies, but substatute it with something that you wouldn't even imangine that he is talking about himself. He has to be the author that suffered the most his whole life. But now after his death, we learn to appreciate his life, and his place when he was here on earth. He is the best author that ever lived until this very day.

The book "Poems Of Edgar Allan Poe", contains thirty one works by Edgar Allan Poe. Ranging from sonnets of love to personal depiction's and morbid descripive poems. Such selections as "The Raven", "Lenore", "Annabel Lee", "To Helen", and my favorite poem "Alone" are included in "Poems Of Edgar Allan Poe". Poe's poetry is a beautiful display of human nature and emotion. The poetry portrays his abstract look at the world, especially in the poem "Alone" where a sympathetic nature arises in readers from understanding exactly what he poetically writes. With Poe's descriptions of being an odd child during his youth, readers empathize with him and understand his sadness. Give Poe's work a try you may find a strange connection of your own.

This book is definitely worth the purchase. Some of Edgar Allan Poe's most popular writings,but also some less known that are equally valuable. This book essentially combines an economical price with a valuable amount of information, including a short biographical note about Poe himself. If you are looking for a research reference for any kind of report, or just to refresh your memory of some of his works, this is definitely the ideal book to add to your collection.

A wonderful compilation of the works of Edgar allen Poe. Complete with a beautiful introduciton that describes Poe in his worst and in his best days. twenty-one of his best short stories, and thirty-four haunting poems. Recomended to anyone interested in reading true horror.

I'll read his tales aloud to anyone who will listen. It's corny, but otherwise disinterested persons become enthralled. It's true that one's passion for a thing can influence others - if it's positive. I encouraged my sister to do a reading of his poem 'The Bells' for class. In it, you can hear the din of different bells from the cheerful to the utter gloom.

There's something unexplainably healthy about a good ghost story or death-inspired poem. The unknown is thrilling. Poe's language contains enormouse range. Readers reactions are consequent to his methods. You have to buy into his smokey, ideal-drenched realm! BE carried away!

I snatch up every collection of his works - old ones especially. The illustrations are fabuloso.

Poe has always been a favorite writer of mine, and I enjoyed this convenient collate of his best work. The Raven and The Masque Of The Red Death, especially. I highly recommend this to anyone who appreciates good poetry and literature.

I thought this short story was very good! It is about a man(with an unknown name) that is sent to the spanish inquisistion and is stuck there for many nights. One night he later awakes and is awoken by a swinging pendulum coming down to slice him. The only way out is through a never ending pit or to be killed by a spiked pendulum...which way will he choose...read it and you will find out!

I really enjoy very much Poe's short stories, mainly those where he gives us only a glimpse in some part of his main character's life.

"The pit and the pendulum" has almost no begginig and no end. It's the story of a man condemned to death by the Inquisiton. This death is not a simple one, since he is thrown in a dungeon with no light and lots of dangers.

This short story is full of anguish and told in an almost hysterical way. The reader discovers the horrors of the dungeon together with the main character. We don't know his name, we don't know what he did to be condemned, we don't know where he came from, we don't know nothing at all about him. And yet we keep turning the pages to see whet's going to happen next.

Poe had a dark style of writing; he could toy with his reader's minds as well as with his character's minds, and that's what makes him a master of romantic-gothic storytelling.

Read with the lights on.

Grade 9.6/10

I think that this was a very exciting book. It's one of those books where you need to keep reading to find out what happns next and it's like you can't stop. The narrator is stuck in the Spanish inquisition and he discovers a pit--no one knows whats down there, but you can guess by context clues. Then he awakens to a pendulum swinging over him, that comes down so slow. Will he be cunning enough to escape? Read and find out!