Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American writer and poet and one of the most preeminent figures of Gothic Literature. He is widely recognized as a master of the short story form, but also delved into poetry, essays and literary criticism. His work often revolved around dark and macabre themes, using death and the human mind s deepest fears to craft complex stories about a vast array of subjects. The short stories selected in this volume are but an example of Edgar Allan Poe s use of fear and mystery as a literary device for creating dark and immortal tales, and a continued statement of the author s influential contribution to literature and pop culture.