Victorians! discussion

Pasting from a different thread where I originally posted this:

It's Poe time for me; I have only dim memories of reading any of his stuff way back when I was around K's son's age. Anyone want to help me with your top Poe stories?

Generally, the obvious plan is "Read the ones you recognize, in order," which would be:

- Fall of the House of Usher (1839)
- Murders in the Rue Morgue (1841)
- Masque of the Red Death (1842)
- Pit and the Pendulum (1842)
- Telltale Heart (1842 and the only one I distinctly remember reading)
- Purloined Letter (1844)

I'd love to hear further recs, though - any unjustly overlooked stories that are your particular favorites, or for that matter any dissenting opinions on famous ones you don't think warrant the reputation.

Jackie Renee posted in reply:

Some of my favorites (which aren't already on your list) are:

-Ligeia
-The Cask of Amontillado
-Loss of Breath

If you listen to audio books there is one that includes a lot of the horror stories and several poems read by Vincent Price and Basil Rathbone. I think it is called Tales of Terror.

Alex wrote: "Pasting from a different thread where I originally posted this:

It's Poe time for me; I have only dim memories of reading any of his stuff way back when I was around K's son's age. Anyone want to ..."

I haven't read all Poe's stories, but I think my favourite is "The fall of Usher House", "Masque of Red Death" and "The Black Cat" I read it long ago, but I remember "Pit and the Pendulum" gave me the creeps.

For a lesser known work, I quite enjoy The Premature Burial.

Thanks folks! I've finished all the ones on my list, and am moving on to your suggestions!

BTW: I had, of course, heard about Holmes' debt to Dupin, but I wasn't ready for just how much he owes. Conan Doyle shoulda paid Poe royalties for that!

Once we acknowledge the debt, though, I have to say I find Holmes way more interesting. The deductions are simply better - the mysteries more tightly constructed - and Holmes is a better character, with his many utterly unlikable qualities; Dupin shares only his arrogance.

Pit & Pendulum spoilers: (view spoiler)[
Anyone got any guesses as to what's in the pit? It's clearly liquid, probably water since the rats seem to have come from it. I can't figure out what's got him so terrified of it. I'm sure Poe didn't know either, and it was more of a metaphor than anything else, but I still can't help wondering. Er...sharks? (hide spoiler)]

Answering my own question, after reading "The Premature Burial":
(view spoiler)[
I think the pit is just a pit, and it should be seen as analogous to being buried alive, which Poe is clearly completely obsessed with. (hide spoiler)]

I grew up near Poe's Bronx cottage so he's always been sort of special to me. Totally different from Holmes but so much creepier. I still think about The Tell-Tale Heart, The Pit and the Pendulum, THE PREMATURE BURIAL, as well as The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales,Murders In The Rue Morgue And Other Stories, and The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales. Plus I love his poetry, especially Annabel Lee, The Raven, Ulalume, Annabel Lee and To Helen.

My mom used to read me his poetry when I was a little girl and the rhythms take me right back to childhood.

I grew up in Baltimore, which also claims a special attachment to Poe - we paid special attention to his works in our schools as a result. He was one of my first deep attachments to good literature and poetry. I would recommend this lovely edition of his short stories, which I keep on my bedside table:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55...

So glad to see other Poe fans out there!

E.A. Poe was more of a psychological writer than Conan Doyle. He had some "issues" and they were expressed in his writings. For some very interesting audio readings of Poe, check out "Closed on Account of Rabies" (http://www.amazon.com/Closed-Account-...). The title of the CD refers to a rumor that Poe died of rabies. (I don't think he did.)

Librivox.org also has some excellent narrations of The Cask of Amontillado.

What I didn't know until recently was that Poe wrote a lot of humorous material sans any creepiness. I couldn't get through it, though.