I highly recommend this book! It is Poe in his own words. This book is a brilliant answer to many off-the-wall interpretations of his theories and life. This book is essential to any serious study of Poe, and certainly for any journalist or writer who wants to read a master at work! Poe was not just a fiction writer. He was the first artist as critic in America's history. This book will allow you to see Poe as a man.

There are few american authors as good as Edgar Allen Poe. From the grotesque to the sublime his poetry is among the most enjoyable ever written. His tales continue to excite both young and old alike. One of the things that I enjoy most about Poe is that many of his tales are designed not only for suspense but also to challenge the intellect of the reader. This edition of Poe is one of the finest available. It is made to Library standards and is the version of choice for all who want to enjoy Poe's writings over a lifetime. In addition to the books superior binding and quality it includes the works not commonly found among other so called complete editons. They include: The unparalled Adventure of One Hans Pfall, The Journal of Julius Rodmen, and Eureka:Aprose poem. The book also includes a complete index of titles and of first lines, and notes on the text. For anyone looking for a definative edition on Poe I couldn't make a stronger recommendation.

This book makes many original contributions to the study of Poe and his times. As I read through it, I began to understand what Poe must have felt as he struggled to make it as a professional writer. The book has something for everyone: capitalism, slavery, desperate acts of deception, and a fascinating link between Poe and Charles Babbage, who invented the prototype of the modern computer. I especially liked the fact that Whalen laid out convincing evidence--much of it new--instead of just making assertions. The book is not just an interpretation of Poe; it's really an attempt to recreate one of the most important moments in American cultural history.

Edgar Allan Poe(1809-1849) may be considered the master of the mystery/horror story.His life, fraught with tragedy, shows through in his works, both short stories and poetry. He writes morbidly but beautifully of love and death, fantastick images, and guilt among other things. In "The Black Cat" for instance he writes beautifully about a man's love for all creatures, and a page later this man is morbidly brutalizing a beloved cat, and in a bizarre turn of events,including a grotesque murder, the cat comes back and gets revenge in the end.

The book is an unabridged compilation of Poe's most memorable short stories and poems. It includes such masterpieces as "Ligeia", a very beautiful story of a man's love for a woman, which also turns tradgic and gruesome,"The Tell Tale Heart", a man's guilt over a murder gets the best of him,'The Mask of Red Death", and "The Murders in the Rue Morgue".Some of the wonderful poetry you will be treated to includes "The Raven","Tamerlane", and "Annabel Lee", about the death of his young wife. There are many more stories and poems to be enjoyed and to be scared by. The book also includes informative essays on Poe by George Bernard Shaw, and William Carlos Williams.

Many of Poe's works were made into terrific horror films,"The Fall of the House of Usher"/"The Pit and the Pendulum",(both also found in this book) to name a couple and his poetry can be found being quoted in thrillers such as 'Play Misty for Me"("Annabel Lee").(Where would Vincent Price and Elvira be without Poe?)

If you are a fan of Poe or of this genre of stories, or if you would like a great introduction to Poe, you will love this book.You can pick it up again and again to read any of his stories(which make good campfire fare) and poems.

"And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, Still is sitting...." Laurie

I've had this book for quite a long time. I like this book because it has a great audio drama as well as narations to The Fall Of The House Of Usher. I also like the dramatic reading of The Telltale Heart. The story about the Fall Of The House Of Usher is the story that'll chill you to the bones. It has things that'll send ice up your spine. This book is great. It will scare you.

In an age defined by its thist for material glamour and financial success, "Edgar Allan Poe: Poetry, Tales, and Selected Essays" is a refreshing reclamation of class and importance. Indeed, one rarely finds a volume more indicative of artistic essence, or more faithful to the memory of great literary genius than this unassuming compendium. Moreover, "Poetry, Tales, and Selected Essays" demonstrates a peerless selection of Poe's greatest work. The seasoned Poe-reader will find cause, after sufficient perusal, to conclude that few works are able to illustrate Poe in so honest a light. Perhaps most admirable is the pursuit of fusion between Poe's fiction and nonfiction. Where many publications approach the mixture in unbecoming fashion, "Poetry, Tales, and Selected Essays" achieves an equilibrium wherein the literature may be viewed as a consequence of the principles discussed in each literary essay. In this way, the essays dovetail with the fiction beautifully, and the reader comes away blessed with a more catholic concept of Poe's genius. This effort at capturing Poe's essence is both commendable and enjoyable. Truly, it is an indispensable purchase for the avid Poe-reader.

Eerie ... Weird ... Terrifying ... Chilling stories by Edgar Allan Poe, the master of terror: "The Fall of the House of Usher," "The Mask of the Red Death," "The Cask of the Amontillado," and five other tales that hover on the edge of madness and pull you into a nightmared world -- from the back cover.

I got my copy (...) (a bookstore that specializes in plays and scripts), and I thought it was an awesome play and a wonderful adaptation of Poe's classic masterpiece.

Set-designers and make-up artists may develop a love-hate relationship with this play though, since the play requires a set that literally breaks down at the end of the play, and lots of special effects make-up (like a woman's chest with her heart torn out, etc).

Also, the play suggests a lot of music/sound fx cues (and they charge (...) for the sound tape to be used with it), and I agree that the play would benefit from having some well-timed music cues. And I'm sure a talented musician would have a very fun time creating music for this piece.

So if anyone were to produce this play, it would actually be a rather daunting task. But if done right, this could be a very unforgettable play.

My God, how I would LOVE to see this play, or better yet, be able to portray the role of Ed in this play. :)

A very great collection of Poe tales. All the great tales in one book. Recommended reading for Poe fanatics.

Although I haven't listened to this collection it promises to be amazing. James Stewart is one of the greatest movie actors ever and his voice would bring amazing power to Edgar Allen Poe's tales. My mind salivates at the idea of hearing such thrillers and "The Tell-tale heart," "The Pit and the Pendulum," and "The Fall of the House of Usher."