Review Detail

This edition presents the short stories and poetry of Poe, with a striking modern cover and a pretty large font to make for an accessible reading experience. Unlike many other classic compendiums, there's no introduction or notes to fluff up the page count, and it's all Poe from start to finish, making it ideal for perhaps younger readers who just want to get to the good stuff.

Although I'm certainly no expert, the works in this volume present the variety and breadth of Poe's works. From seafaring to murder mystery to famous poetry, all display a haunting lyricism and the horror of a soul stalked by dread. This is for the lover of dramatic words, for Poe certainly loved them as well, employing many a twisty, turning description or carefully exact phrase to build a scene. Some of the tales are more accessible than others, and the casual young reader may either set it aside or come to discover a new favorite. I'd encourage anyone to sample a handful of stories and poems before deciding one way or the other (personally, I'm a bigger fan of the poetry).

This edition is available as a standalone or as part of the matching Monstrous Classics box set.