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Sunday Classics: The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe

A classic tale of horror from a master storyteller of the genre

There can be no better night than Halloween to read Edgar Allan Poe’s infamous short stories, many of which deal with the supernatural and the metaphysical. The Fall of the House of Usher is one such read. 

The story unfolds in a sprawling, half-empty mansion that is inhabited by the narrator’s friend Roderick and his twin sister Madeline — the last two surviving members of the Usher family. Trouble breaks out after Madeline succumbs to a long spell of illness, following which her body is kept in the family tomb. The plot gradually inches towards the climax with Roderick growing increasingly hysterical, until one fateful night, a frightening revelation drives him to his death. As the narrator flees for his life, he looks back just in time to witness the house of Usher crumbling.  

This Vintage Classics edition from Penguin publications contains a range of Poe’s short stories, poems and novellas including popular titles like The Raven, The Pit and the Pendulum and The Tell-Tale Heart. That apart, it also contains some of the author’s essays and reviews, making it a comprehensive collection, and is ideal for introducing readers to Poe’s unparalleled literary prowess. 

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