The Cask of Amontillado: Fifteen of Edgar Allan Poe's Greatest Stories

The Cask of Amontillado" is one of Edgar Allan Poe's most enduring works. 

"The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge. You, who so well know the nature of my soul, will not suppose, however, that I gave utterance to a threat. At length I would be avenged; this was a point definitely settled-but the very definitiveness with which it was resolved, precluded the idea of risk. I must not only punish, but punish with impunity."

This is a collection of his greatest tales of grime and darkness, with his poem, "The Raven", included as a bonus.

Naturally, there is debate about which of Poe's stories are really his greatest ones, with much having to do with one's personal preference. 

Still, the fifteen included in this edition are undoubtedly strong contenders for the distinction. 

Included short stories in this volume: 

"The "Tell-Tale Heart", "The Cask of Amontillado", "The Fall of the House of Usher", "The Pit and the Pendulum", "The Black Cat", "The Murders in the Rue Morgue", "The Purloined Letter", "Ms. Found in a Bottle", "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar", "The Premature Burial", "The Masque of Red Death", "The Balloon Hoax", "William Wilson", "The System of Dr. Tarr and Prof. Fether", and last but not least, "Hop-Frog."

About The Author:

Edgar Allan Poe- Author, poet, and literary critic, he is credited with pioneering the short story genre, inventing detective fiction, and contributing to the development of science fiction. However, Poe is best known for his works of the macabre, including such infamous titles as The Raven, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, Lenore, and The Fall of the House of Usher. Part of the American Romantic Movement, Poe was one of the first writers to make his living exclusively through his writing, working for literary journals and becoming known as a literary critic. His works have been widely adapted into a film. Edgar Allan Poe died of a mysterious illness in 1849 at the age of 40.