|
|
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Worthy Addition to Any Serious Library, Jun 21 2004
I bought a copy of this Vintage edition, with exactly the same cover art, new in 1975 - folks that's 29 years ago. It's a massive compendium of virtually all, if not all, of anything that Poe wrote of literary consequence, including short stories (a/k/a the "tales"), poetry, and his only novel (*The Narrative of A. Gordon Pym*). Although Poe's work in this edition is not organized in exactly the most scholarly order, and, yes, is a tad short on literary criticism -- who cares? If you're looking for criticism, biography or interpretation, there are dozens of books about Poe to satisfy that need. But if you're looking for a comprehensive "one-stop" source of Poe's works at a great price, this is it. I have acquired and tossed hundreds of books in the past 29 years, but I have hung onto this volume. The inclusion of the complete *Narrative of A. Gordon Pym* alone is worth the price of the book. In addition to the more commonly anthologized stories like "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," "The Pit and the Pendulum," "The Black Cat," "The Tell-tale Heart," and "The Cask of Amontillado," you'll find lesser known gems like the nightmarish "William Wilson," one of the best "doppelganger" stories ever written. If you've never read Poe before, his style is distinctly 19th century and may pose an impediment to some readers. Old fashioned or not, he remains the master of this genre. This particular edition offers all the proof you'll ever need and many hours of reading pleasure.
|
