Selected Shorts: Poe!

by Symphony Space, Edgar Allan Poe, Terrance Mann (Narrator)

A selection of some of Edgar Allan Poe's darker short stories, together with Gothic sketches.

Take a dark trip into the imagination of Edgar Allan Poe...

Genres: Short Stories, Horror, Poetry, Fiction, Audiobook, Classics, 19th Century

2 pages, Audio CD

Published September 26, 2012

About the author

http://store.symphonyspace.org/collec...

Reviews

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

When it comes to Edgar Allan Poe, there is no question that I prefer his poetry to his prose. His prose has aged well, but it's not my thing since most of his characters simply commit an atrocity and I don't have time to decide whether I should care about them or not. I do care about the cat from 'The Black Cat' so that one was the best.

His poetry is great and I really liked the narrators, especially Fionnula Flanagan. I feel the longing and the horror I expected to feel when reading Poe.

The Tell-Tale Heart (3 stars)

The Raven (4 stars)

The Masque of the Red Death (2 stars)

The Cask of Amontillado (2 stars)

The Bells (4 stars)

The Pit and the Pendulum (2 stars)

Annabel Lee (4 stars)

The Black Cat (4 stars)

[ناصر سليم]

۱۴۰۲/خرداد

[V.M.]

The readers in these recordings swing for the fences with mixed results. The (slightly) more subdued readings of "The Pit and the Pendulum" and "The Cask of Amontillado" successfully convey the horror of the stories (doesn't hurt that "Cask," in particular, is simply the best in any way, shape, or form). The poems and other stories, while all undeniably excellent and important works, range from overwrought to grating, with many a rolled r and loud cackling directly into the microphone. Probably better to just read these in the end.

[Emmett Spain · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a review of the live stage reading of Poe’s more famous works, via audible.com

When it comes to Poe, many actors seem to feel the need to overact. After all, it doesn’t get much more overwrought than Poe’s dark, and at times funny, gothic prose. I will briefly review the best and worst on offer here:

The Pit & The Pendulum, a harrowing tale, is read by Stephen Lang to great effect. He captures the overwrought darkness of the piece with a haunted quality as he speeds through the narrative like a man trying to speak the words without thinking too hard on them lest their quality drive him mad. It’s terrific and wholly true to the work.

Sadly, the reading of the Raven is laughable. You can actually hear certain members of the audience titter as Harris Yulin does his best raven impression and croaks with overwrought sincerity “Neverrr moooooorrrre!!” This wild overacting attempts to bring the words to life. Instead it cheapens them. He’s not the only culprit—the Raven is part of a group reading where no one really gets it right. The group reading of The Bells fares better, but it’s still one of the weakest pieces of the 8 stories offered here. Everyone is trying too hard.

Overall this is a good introduction to Poe, but I suggest reading the Raven first before hearing it here. The reading of that particular piece really was dreadful.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edgar Allan Poe was such a fantastic writer!

[D · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's probably a good thing that EAP's outlet was putting pen to paper.

[Earline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another attempt at listening to audiobooks.. how can you go wrong with short stories by Edgar Allan Poe?? The voice actors are pretty good in this collection (at times their readings can be cheesy, but there are also some really amazing moments). What stands out to me about this series is that the performances are recorded live in front of an audience. It feels more dramatic and has more character than some of the other audiobooks I've attempted to listen to in the past. Overall a great collection that has inspired me to revisit more of Poe's work.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Selected Shorts is a great program of short stories read by great actors and personalities. This collection gathers several of Edgar Allan Poe's best known stories ("The Black Cat," "The Cask of Amontillado," "The Masque of the Red Death," "The Pit and the Pendulum") and poems ("The Raven," "The Bells," "Annabel Lee"). In short, awesome.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully spooky stories from the vast collection of Edgar Allan Poe's tortured mind. Great way to usher in the Halloween season especially when read by the very talented voices of Rene Auberjonois, Terrance Mann, Fionnula Flanagan and Stephen Lang. Excellent experience all around!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Including The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven, The Masque of the Red Death, The Cask of Amontillado, The Bells, The Pit and the Pendulum, Annabel Lee, and The Black Cat. Though I'd read them before, having them read to me was a fun experience. A good ending to a long saturday.

[Sharyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun. The different readers were all about the "dramatic" part of the readings. The Raven was the only one I could remember at all.

[Child · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got bored with a couple of the tales, but the performers are brilliant. I've really enjoyed it.

[Talal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Poe memes and puns but I can't read his work without wanting to stab the book with a knife cos of his antediluvian language and ridiculously slow pace.

[Mary Newcomb]

These creepy stories and poems were presented in dramatic fashion. This is a great way to explore some aspets of Poe's work.

[Vanessa Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best way to read Poe's poetry! Actors performing it! It was so good! Favorite read of October.