-56% 🔥 Bestseller Selected Tales — Gothic

📖 Have you read this book?

Your review can inspire others to read it

🏚️ Gothic −56%

Selected Tales

Name: Selected Tales
Price: 9.94 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9780199535774

✍️ Edgar Allan Poe

Reader Score

4.7

(7 reviews)

$9.94 ~~$23.00~~ Save $13.06 (56%)

In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days

📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A curated collection of twenty-four Gothic, mystery, and satirical tales by Edgar Allan Poe.

This volume distinguishes itself by pairing Poe's most famous horror stories with his political satire and metaphysical essays. The inclusion of travel narratives offers a perspective often missing from standard horror compilations. Oxford University Press ensures the text remains accurate while providing scholarly tools like introductions and notes. This approach supports readers who want to understand the historical context of these very American tales. The selection demonstrates how Poe created conventions still used in detective fiction today.

Key Themes

Gothic horror detective fiction origins political satire

Literary Context

Poe's work emerged from a specific American historical and political context. This 2008 Oxford World's Classics edition places his tales within that framework, showing how they influenced the development of modern mystery and horror genres in literature.

Edgar Allan Poe

📚 all books by this author (764) →

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

H.P. Lovecraft · Sherlock Holmes · Nathaniel Hawthorne · The Tell-Tale Heart

🏚️

Gothic

🏛 Oxford University Press 📅 2008 📖 338 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780199535774

📝 Description: Selected Tales

Edgar Allan Poe established himself as the inventor of modern mystery fiction while crafting Gothic tales that remain central to horror literature. This Oxford World's Classics volume presents a curated selection of twenty-four works by the American author. The collection balances widely recognized stories with lesser-known pieces, offering a comprehensive view of his literary range. Readers will find "The Fall of the House of Usher" and "The Masque of the Red Death" alongside foundational detective narratives such as "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" and "The Purloined Letter." Beyond these famous entries, the book includes travel narratives, metaphysical essays, and political satires that highlight the historical and political dimensions of his writing. Published by Oxford University Press, this edition reflects over a century of scholarship dedicated to making global literature accessible. Each volume in the series provides an accurate text supported by expert introductions and extensive notes designed to clarify complex passages. Up-to-date bibliographies guide further study for those interested in deeper analysis. The book suits readers seeking both popular classics and obscure political commentary from Poe’s career. It may not appeal to those looking solely for contemporary horror or straightforward detective novels without historical context.

💎 Our verdict on Selected Tales

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

It successfully balances widely recognized stories with obscure political commentary, highlighting the historical dimensions of Poe’s writing. However, it may not appeal to those looking solely for contemporary horror or straightforward detective novels without historical context. The scholarly apparatus makes it dense for casual readers seeking quick entertainment. Yet, for those wanting to understand the political and metaphysical layers of these very American tales, this volume is an essential resource that bridges the gap between popular classics and deeper literary analysis.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This collection is ideal for readers who seek a comprehensive understanding of Poe’s literary range beyond simple scares. It appeals to those interested in the origins of detective fiction and the political satire that often accompanies his horror stories. The inclusion of travel narratives and metaphysical essays provides a unique perspective missing from standard compilations. Oxford University Press ensures accuracy, making it valuable for scholars and students alike. Readers gain insight into how Poe created conventions still used today, while exploring lesser-known pieces alongside famous entries like 'The Fall of the House of Usher'. It offers a balanced view of his career.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

This volume is essential for scholars of Gothic literature and enthusiasts of early detective fiction who crave rigorously annotated texts. It may disappoint those seeking only visceral thrills without intellectual depth or historical context, as it demands engagement with Poe’s complex prose and…

Reader rating

4.7

Based on 7 reviews

Karen A.

September 9, 2026

Almost perfect

Grabbed it for a long flight. The monster is scarier for how little you see of it. The atmosphere builds slowly and then does not let go. Delivery took a bit longer than quoted. Solid, if not essential.

Liam B.

July 8, 2026

First order from this shop. Genuinely unsettling in places, and it earns it without cheap tricks. Slow burn, but the burn is the point. Already eyeing my next order.

Simon G.

April 9, 2026

Finished it over a stormy weekend, which helped. The audiobook crowd will want the paper copy for the margins. The atmosphere builds slowly and then does not let go. Shipping was quick too.

John B.

January 10, 2026

Chilling

Wanted something for October and it delivered. Read it in two sittings; the second one ran past midnight. Some chapters are hard to read in the best possible way. Would buy from this store again.

Naomi N.

September 25, 2025

Kept me up

This has been on my wishlist for months. Genuinely unsettling in places, and it earns it without cheap tricks. Great value for what you get.

Rachel G.

June 24, 2025

Needed a good scare and got one. The audiobook crowd will want the paper copy for the margins. Belongs in any working kitchen.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Yes. While it features iconic Gothic tales and foundational detective stories like 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue,' it also contains travel narratives, metaphysical essays, and political satires that showcase the breadth of Poe’s intellectual range.

Absolutely. It provides accurate texts supported by expert introductions, extensive notes to clarify complex passages, and up-to-date bibliographies designed to guide deeper scholarly analysis and further research.

📖 Who should read this

📜 Historical context

Edgar Allan Poe stands as the architect of modern mystery and a pillar of American Gothic tradition. This Oxford World's Classics edition situates his work within that foundational lineage, bridging the gap between terrifying atmospheric tales and the birth of the detective genre. By including lesser-known essays and political satire, it reveals how his literary innovations were deeply intertwined with the social and intellectual currents of his time, offering a complete picture of his influence on subsequent horror and thriller writers.