Gold-Bug and Other Tales

<p>Recognized today as the undisputed master of the American Gothic horror story Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) revealed his genius in tales of death terror evil and perversity. Highly skilled in achieving a calculated psychological effect Poe created chilling fictional nightmares permeated by mysterious forces grotesque creatures and improbable hallucinations. <br> Poe's immense powers as a storyteller are at their peak in this anthology containing nine of his best-known short stories. Among them are The Murders in the Rue Morgue a gripping 19th-century detective story that provided a model for future mystery writers; The Fall of the House of Usher and The Masque of the Red Death pervaded with eerie thoughts impulses and fears; The Tell-Tale Heart and The Cask of Amontillado masterpieces of wickedness and crime; The Pit and the Pendulum with its agonizing specter of imminent and horrifying death; and The Gold-Bug a fascinating detective story that combines romance and adventure in an absorbing tale of buried treasure. <br> Mystery lovers and horror story enthusiasts will find this inexpensive collection by one of the great masters of the form an exciting addition to their personal libraries.</p>