A collection of some of the poems, tales, essays, criticisms & personal letters written by Poe, this book is as beautiful inside as it's outside. Its well curated pieces convey the sheer brilliance of Poe: as the pioneer of detective stories by using ratiocination; as someone who wrote horror, romance, humour with equal brilliance, who described beauty of a woman as well as nature, as well as describe the absolute mental horror or grotesqueness of a rotting corpse; who wrote about grief from loss of love or a loved one but also fear or anger, as well as a sweet comedy about a talking Egyptian mummy! At 15, Poe wrote his longest, most complex poem about Al Araaf, a supernova; but he's also written a short poem berating Science as well as a tale describing a chess - playing automaton! His essays & criticisms were sharp, witty, sometimes unforgiving to the subject. But they taught me how to appreciate poetry. His letters give a glimpse of his personality, his romance(s), friendships as well as struggles. While Poe's works are freely available on the net, this book is a mandatory collectible for every Poe fan.