What do you think?
Rate this book
Classics Reimagined, Edgar Allan Poe: Stories & Poems
Renowned artist David Plunkert takes readers on a dark journey into the gothic stories of Edgar Allan Poe. These stories take on a whole new meaning when accompanied by Plunkert's mystical, and sometimes haunting interpretations. With this edition of the Classics Reimagined series, you'll find these densely written classics boring... nevermore.
The Classics Reimagined series is a library of stunning collector's editions of unabridged classic novels illustrated by contemporary artists from around the world. Each artist offers his or her own unique, visual, interpretation of the most well-loved, widely read, and avidly collected literature from renowned authors.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2017
12 people are currently reading
684 people want to read
About the author
Edgar Allan Poe
9,906 books28.7k followersThe name Poe brings to mind images of murderers and madmen, premature burials, and mysterious women who return from the dead. His works have been in print since 1827 and include such literary classics as The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven, and The Fall of the House of Usher. This versatile writer’s oeuvre includes short stories, poetry, a novel, a textbook, a book of scientific theory, and hundreds of essays and book reviews. He is widely acknowledged as the inventor of the modern detective story and an innovator in the science fiction genre, but he made his living as America’s first great literary critic and theoretician. Poe’s reputation today rests primarily on his tales of terror as well as on his haunting lyric poetry.
Just as the bizarre characters in Poe’s stories have captured the public imagination so too has Poe himself. He is seen as a morbid, mysterious figure lurking in the shadows of moonlit cemeteries or crumbling castles. This is the Poe of legend. But much of what we know about Poe is wrong, the product of a biography written by one of his enemies in an attempt to defame the author’s name.
The real Poe was born to traveling actors in Boston on January 19, 1809. Edgar was the second of three children. His other brother William Henry Leonard Poe would also become a poet before his early death, and Poe’s sister Rosalie Poe would grow up to teach penmanship at a Richmond girls’ school. Within three years of Poe’s birth both of his parents had died, and he was taken in by the wealthy tobacco merchant John Allan and his wife Frances Valentine Allan in Richmond, Virginia while Poe’s siblings went to live with other families. Mr. Allan would rear Poe to be a businessman and a Virginia gentleman, but Poe had dreams of being a writer in emulation of his childhood hero the British poet Lord Byron. Early poetic verses found written in a young Poe’s handwriting on the backs of Allan’s ledger sheets reveal how little interest Poe had in the tobacco business.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_al...
Just as the bizarre characters in Poe’s stories have captured the public imagination so too has Poe himself. He is seen as a morbid, mysterious figure lurking in the shadows of moonlit cemeteries or crumbling castles. This is the Poe of legend. But much of what we know about Poe is wrong, the product of a biography written by one of his enemies in an attempt to defame the author’s name.
The real Poe was born to traveling actors in Boston on January 19, 1809. Edgar was the second of three children. His other brother William Henry Leonard Poe would also become a poet before his early death, and Poe’s sister Rosalie Poe would grow up to teach penmanship at a Richmond girls’ school. Within three years of Poe’s birth both of his parents had died, and he was taken in by the wealthy tobacco merchant John Allan and his wife Frances Valentine Allan in Richmond, Virginia while Poe’s siblings went to live with other families. Mr. Allan would rear Poe to be a businessman and a Virginia gentleman, but Poe had dreams of being a writer in emulation of his childhood hero the British poet Lord Byron. Early poetic verses found written in a young Poe’s handwriting on the backs of Allan’s ledger sheets reveal how little interest Poe had in the tobacco business.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_al...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 19, 2024
Always worth a re-read.
February 1, 2021
As I've gotten older, I seem to find myself gravitating to classic works authored by those who died prematurely. Oscar Wilde, Edgar Allan Poe, Sylvia Plath, and the like.
I had forgotten how much I enjoyed reading Poe. This particular edition, Classics Reimagined, might be the most gorgeous paperback edition of any book I've ever owned. It has striking cover art with almost bright coral stained edges. And when you hold it, it feels like something special.
The accompanying illustrations by David Plunkert are dark and gripping, beautifully complementing the collection of stories and poems. I've always enjoyed rhyme poetry. There's something dreamlike and lyrical how Poe can pluck you from your room and drop you someplace completely beyond, and you can only watch and feel as you venture further along.
This isn't a quote from this collection, but I think what Poe has written fits quite nicely.
I was never really insane except upon occasions when my heart was touched.
We should all be so lucky.
I had forgotten how much I enjoyed reading Poe. This particular edition, Classics Reimagined, might be the most gorgeous paperback edition of any book I've ever owned. It has striking cover art with almost bright coral stained edges. And when you hold it, it feels like something special.
The accompanying illustrations by David Plunkert are dark and gripping, beautifully complementing the collection of stories and poems. I've always enjoyed rhyme poetry. There's something dreamlike and lyrical how Poe can pluck you from your room and drop you someplace completely beyond, and you can only watch and feel as you venture further along.
This isn't a quote from this collection, but I think what Poe has written fits quite nicely.
I was never really insane except upon occasions when my heart was touched.
We should all be so lucky.
November 6, 2023
So this was my first crack at reading Poe. It is something I have meant to look into for quite some time, and just never got around to it.
It was a bit of a mixed bag for me.
Far and away my favorite piece from this collection was The Tale-Tell Heart, though to be fair that is probably because I have some nostalgia for that story thanks to a spooky-story record I would listen to growing up.
If I had to pick a least favorite, I would have to say The Murders in Rue Morgue. It did a pet peeve of mine when it comes to mystery stories, namely , plus the multi-page preamble before the "narrative" began just kind of my eyes glaze over.
So after reading this volume will I read more Poe? I don't know. We'll have to see.
On a side note: I guess I'll be the odd man out here (as compared to the other reviewers), and just say that the art wasn't really my thing.
It was a bit of a mixed bag for me.
Far and away my favorite piece from this collection was The Tale-Tell Heart, though to be fair that is probably because I have some nostalgia for that story thanks to a spooky-story record I would listen to growing up.
If I had to pick a least favorite, I would have to say The Murders in Rue Morgue. It did a pet peeve of mine when it comes to mystery stories, namely , plus the multi-page preamble before the "narrative" began just kind of my eyes glaze over.
So after reading this volume will I read more Poe? I don't know. We'll have to see.
On a side note: I guess I'll be the odd man out here (as compared to the other reviewers), and just say that the art wasn't really my thing.
July 19, 2018
If you are a fan of Poe, this book belongs in your collection. I was very pleased with the story selection (including one of my favorites, "Never Bet the Devil Your Head"), and the book was beautifully illustrated. My only real complaint is that the size and coloring of the font made the text a bit difficult to read but honestly I don't view this book as a reading copy.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 16, 2018
I just love the illustrations in the Classics Reimagined Series! Poe is Poe, if you love short creepy stories and haven't read him, I don't know what your waiting for.
Read for Beatles Challenge The Fool on the Hill “ - Read a book/play that includes a foolish character
Read for Beatles Challenge The Fool on the Hill “ - Read a book/play that includes a foolish character
April 13, 2018
The illustrations were super cool and creepy and went along perfectly with the stories! Plus Edgar Allan Poe is one of my favorite authors and it was fun getting to read most of his work. If you like/are interested in Edgar Allan Poe, you should definitely check it out.
October 8, 2020
Reading Edgar Allen Poe is always a treat, but what makes this edition stand out is the amazing, creepy, steam punk meets gothic illustrations by David Plunkett. They are dark and eerie and evoke just the right tone of creepiness for an autumnal reading of Poe’s tails. 5 stars.
January 18, 2018
The illustrations were by no means beautiful, and this went perfectly with Poe's creepy stories. Great reading experience for one of my favorite authors.
April 5, 2020
Excelente recopilación e ilustraciones
May 20, 2020
One of the most beautiful book I have. Edgar Allan Poe never disappointed me, and David Plunkert did an amazing job. 5 stars with no hesitation.
January 26, 2021
Una Joya de libro, coleccionable, las ilustraciones de David Plunkert son alucinantes.
February 28, 2023
4'5/5⭐
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews