The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 3

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

2149

Title

The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 3

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This volume collects the final chapters of 'Narrative of A. Gordon Pym,' alongside the complete tales 'Ligeia,' 'Morella,' 'A Tale of the Ragged Mountains,' 'The Spectacles,' 'King Pest,' and 'Three Sundays in a Week.' Poe masterfully blends gothic horror, supernatural mystery, and satirical wit, offering a rich tapestry of his most enduring literary achievements.

Summary up to 500 words

Edgar Allan Poe's Volume 3 presents a striking contrast between his most harrowing psychological horror and his sharpest social satire. The volume opens with the dramatic conclusion of 'Narrative of A. Gordon Pym,' a tale of survival in the Antarctic. After a shipwreck, the narrator and his companions are stranded on a desolate island, exploring bizarre black granite chasms that seem unnatural. The narrative builds to a terrifying climax as the narrator, while descending a precipice, succumbs to a hallucination of a fiendish figure. Overcome by a desire to fall, he plunges to his death, only to be caught by his friend Peters. The collection then shifts to the macabre tales 'Ligeia' and 'Morella,' which explore themes of reincarnation, the power of the will, and the supernatural. 'A Tale of the Ragged Mountains' continues this grim tone, presenting a story of survival and madness in a harsh landscape. The tone lightens significantly with the satirical 'The Spectacles' and 'King Pest.' The volume concludes with the whimsical 'Three Sundays in a Week,' a clever ruse involving time zones and longitude. In this story, the narrator and his fiancée trick their obstinate uncle into consenting to a wedding by convincing him that three Sundays have occurred simultaneously in a single week due to the differing local times of travelers who circumnavigated the globe. Together, these works showcase Poe's versatility, ranging from the darkest psychological horror to sharp social comedy.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction
• Horror