The Gold-Bug and Other Tales (1843)

by Edgar Allan Poe

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For lovers of gothic American literature, horror, mystery, or suspense, consider the nine gripping stories contained within the Edgar Allen Poe collection "The Gold-Bug and Other Tales." Two mysteries and seven murders, all coming from various points in Poe's writing career, make this anthology a valuable addition to any literature collection. "The Gold-Bug" is set in South Carolina and follows the tale of a man and his servant as they embark on a madness-induced journey for buried treasure. The story hinges on the reader's ability to break a code in order to figure out a secret message. "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," known as the world's first detective story, makes the audience look for a non-human explanation of a double homicide in France. The puzzle involves a murderer who spoke no language known to man, and a hair left at the crime scene that was not human. Other popular Poe stories are included in the collection, such as "The Fall of the House of Usher," "The Masque of the Red Death," "The Pit and the Pendulum," and "The Cask of Amontillado." Readers will enjoy Poe's twisted sense of horror and the Gothic style, both of which have entranced audiences for the better part of two centuries.… (more)

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8 short stories from 1839 to 1846

betty_s | Sep 16, 2023 |

This is a great collection of tales by Edgar Allan Poe. They range from the more mundane yet adventurous, "The Gold-Bug," to the dark and truly twisted, "The Black Cat."

What strikes me most about the tales collected here, especially "The Black Cat" and "The Tell-Tale Heart" is the simple lack of motivation behind the horrible deeds done. Written in first person, the main character in each has no idea why he does the awful things he does, just that he has grown "dark and twisted in his soul."

Definitely an excellent read for anyone into Poe or someone looking to start. Adding this one to my Little Free Library in hopes of it finding a new Poe fan out there. (

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regularguy5mb | Oct 21, 2016 |

Nobody can beat Edgar Allan Poe. (

)

JG_IntrovertedReader | Apr 3, 2013 |

I've decided that I don't like Poe very much. (

)

gmillar | Sep 5, 2009 |

Wonderful (

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raven_in_the_woods | Feb 15, 2007 |

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Βιβλιοθήκη Ελλήνων και Ξένων Συγγραφέων / Γαλαξίας

Contains

The Pit and the Pendulum [short story] by Edgar Allan Poe

To Helen [1831 poem] by Edgar Allan Poe

Israfel by Edgar Allan Poe

The Raven [poem] by Edgar Allan Poe

Ulalume [poem] by Edgar Allan Poe

Eldorado [poem] by Edgar Allan Poe

(show 18 more)

MS. Found in a Bottle [short story] by Edgar Allan Poe

The Man That Was Used Up [short story] by Edgar Allan Poe

The Fall of the House of Usher [short story] by Edgar Allan Poe

The Murders in the Rue Morgue [short story] by Edgar Allan Poe

The Oval Portrait [short story] by Edgar Allan Poe

The Masque of the Red Death [short story] by Edgar Allan Poe

The Tell-Tale Heart {story} by Edgar Allan Poe

The Gold Bug [short story] by Edgar Allan Poe

The Black Cat [short story] by Edgar Allan Poe

The Purloined Letter [short story] by Edgar Allan Poe

The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar [short fiction] by Edgar Allan Poe

The Cask of Amontilado by Edgar Allan Poe

A Tale of the Ragged Mountains [short story] by Edgar Allan Poe

The Island of the Fay [short fiction] by Edgar Allan Poe

The Premature Burial [short story] by Edgar Allan Poe

Mellonta Tauta [short story] by Edgar Allan Poe

The Imp of the Perverse [short story] by Edgar Allan Poe

The Balloon Hoax by Edgar Allan Poe

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The Gold-Bug and Other Tales

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1843

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▾Book descriptions

For lovers of gothic American literature, horror, mystery, or suspense, consider the nine gripping stories contained within the Edgar Allen Poe collection "The Gold-Bug and Other Tales." Two mysteries and seven murders, all coming from various points in Poe's writing career, make this anthology a valuable addition to any literature collection. "The Gold-Bug" is set in South Carolina and follows the tale of a man and his servant as they embark on a madness-induced journey for buried treasure. The story hinges on the reader's ability to break a code in order to figure out a secret message. "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," known as the world's first detective story, makes the audience look for a non-human explanation of a double homicide in France. The puzzle involves a murderer who spoke no language known to man, and a hair left at the crime scene that was not human. Other popular Poe stories are included in the collection, such as "The Fall of the House of Usher," "The Masque of the Red Death," "The Pit and the Pendulum," and "The Cask of Amontillado." Readers will enjoy Poe's twisted sense of horror and the Gothic style, both of which have entranced audiences for the better part of two centuries.

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Recognized today as the undisputed master of the American Gothic horror story, Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1949) 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.
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.
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.

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