Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American writer and poet and one of the most dominant 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 Fall of the House of Usher is a psychological thriller that narrates the descent into oblivion of the last remaining survivors of an old family. The other stories part of this compilation also show us the strengths of Poe as an author, capable of crafting horror out of every aspect of the human experience.