'And much of Madness and more of Sin And Horror the Soul of the Plot' This selection of Poe's critical writings, short fiction and poetry demonstrates his intense interest in aesthetic issues, and the astonishing power and imagination with which he probed the darkest corners of the human mind. 'The Fall of the House of Usher' describes the final hours of a family tormented by tragedy and the legacy of the past. In 'Tell-Tale Heart', a murderer's insane delusions threaten to betray him, while stories such as 'The Pit and the Pendulum' and 'The Cask of Amontillado' explore extreme states of decadence, fear and hate. These works display Poe's startling ability to build suspense with almost nightmarish intensity. David Galloway's introduction re-examines the myths surrounding Poe's life and reputation. This edition includes a new chronology and suggestions for further reading. PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AS SELECTED WRITINGS Chronology Introduction Further Reading A Note on the Text POEMS Stanzas Sonnet — To Science A/ Aaraaf Romance TO Helen Israfel The City in the Sea The Sleeper Lenore The Valley of Unrest The Raven Ulalume For Annie A Valentine Annabel Lee The Bells Eldorado TALES MS. Found in a Bottle Ligeia The Man that was Used Up The Fall of the House of Usher William Wilson The Man of the Crowd The Murders in the Rue Morgue A Descent into the Maelström Eleonora The Oval Portrait The Masque of the Red Death The Pit and the Pendulum The Tell-Tale Heart The Gold-Bug The Black Cat The Purloined Letter The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar The Cask of Amontillado Hop-Frog ESSÄYS AND REVIEWS Letter to B— Georgia Scenes The Drake—Halleck Review (excerpts) Watkins Tottle The Philosophy of Furniture Wyandotté Music Time and Space Twice-Told Tales The American Drama (excerpts) Hazlitt The Philosophy of Composition Song-Writing On Imagination The Veil of the Soul The Poetic Principle (excerpts) Notes