Tag: Edgar Allan Poe

After an unnamed illness, the unnamed narrator sits in an unnamed coffee shop in London. Fascinated by the crowd outside the window, he considers how isolated people think they are, despite “the very denseness of the company around”. He takes time to categorize the different types of people he sees. As evening falls, the narrator focuses on “a decrepit old man, some sixty-five or seventy years of age”, whose face has a peculiar idiosyncrasy, and whose body “was short in stature, very thin, and apparently very feeble” wearing filthy, ragged clothes of a “beautiful texture”.

This story isn’t as scary as most stories and tales written by Edgar Allan Poe. This story is interesting and fascinating. This story explores  the various ways we can be present in the world and experience the people and life around us. Which is very interesting topic for at least me. 

This story really makes you want to stop for a moment and observe whenever you see a big crowd. For someone people this tale may open eyes, because it touches on stuff like how much we are actually isolated and alone in the biggest crowds. But also how big crowds doesn’t have any connectedness with other people.

You will easily find a meaning behind this tale if you only look. Because the idea behind the plot goes actually deeper than just a gothic horror story. 

The narrator in this story carries with him a depth of separation and loneliness. Until he finds an unusual face amongst the crowd of supposed pretenders and hypocrites. This sort of gives you a stalker vibe which we all love when it happens in horror stories.

This story does a brilliant classification of characters and is especially fascinated by an old haunted man who aimlessly strolls through the street, always looking for people to be with.

In the end this story is somehow odd and weird. But this may be just a paranoia made by too many horror and thriller books and movies. Though this story involves the narrator following a person for 2 straight days and at the same time it gives us some descriptions about demeanor, gait and body morphology but doesn’t give us the important details in it.

This story is very enjoyable, interesting and it is a very quick read. Even though this tale isn’t written in the typical Edgar Allan Poe’s style. Which of course is dark, scary gothic style. 

The writing style is just through the roof. It is so richly written, and the old english in this story really brings a lot more to the story than you cant expect. 

I give this story 4 / 5

The tale is about the odd relations between a husband and wife. While offering few details, Edgar Allan Poe paints a morbid portrait of identity, death, and marriage.

At the beginning of this tale we are learning about how much the narrator adores his wife Morella. After sometime it turns into a philosophy part. 

This tale is a sad love story with a lot of gothic horror elements.

The story telling this tale was too basic in the end, it almost didn’t feel like the author of this tale was Edgar Allan Poe. But of course this tale needs to get its point for the chilling vibe to it.

However the topic of someone death haunting the main character which in this case is the narrator is pretty much overused. Even Edgar Allan Poe have multiple stories about the same topic, so you get super bored of it when you read about the same thing over and over again. This tale have the potential to be unique if Edgar Allan Poe had taken a different turn to it or written it somehow different. 

This story have the dark vibe to it, but it is for the most part boring. And if you looking for something good written by Edgar Allan Poe dont read this tale. Yes this book has the classic takes of Edgar Allan Poe, but it is far from his best work. 

The writing style is too simple, it almost looks like that while writing this tale Edgar Allan Poe was bored our of his mind or something similar. But of course if you love dark love stories with our happy endings you will enjoy this tale. 

I give this tale 2 / 5

The plot follows an unnamed narrator at sea who finds himself in a series of harrowing circumstances. As he nears his own disastrous death while his ship drives ever southward, he writes an “MS.”, or manuscript, telling of his adventures which he casts into the sea.

Edgar Allan Poe starts this tale with by making it very clear that the narrator in this tale has no imagination. He also points out that narrator stable, rational together with little bit boring. 

This tale is typical Edgar Allan Poe tale, which is more or less a little bit different because the action involves sea and it takes a cool and unique take to it.

This tale makes you question if the narrator in this one goes crazy or if all this is real. I think that all likes a little bit thinking about stuff like that in books.

The plot its fun to read and for the most importantly it is a quick read. But it is also dense and complex. This story is more similar to Jules Verne work than to Edgar Allan Poe work. So if you are just starting your journey with Edgar Allan Poe then go for some other work. Because this tale would work better if you have read one or two stories written by Edgar Allan Poe but it wont be bad if you start here. The plot here is filled with gloomy, supernatural horror. But it has an oddly beautiful and captivating take to it, which Edgar Allan Poe is known for doing in some of his work.

The character development here is very good. Because we can see the clear changing process of the narrator as the tale goes on. It is important to say that the narrator shares the fate of the crew, their “destiny,” though he never really felt part of it.

This tale is however not a horror tale but rather a psychological tales of consternation. It makes you question things. 

The plot more or less is a sea adventure with a psychological take on it. But this tale gets the extra points for the way Edgar Allan Poe describes the ocean. 

The writing style is very gothic and moody which every horror and thriller fan will appreciate. 

I give this tale 2 / 5

The whole story follows Pierre Bon-Bon, who believes himself a profound philosopher, and his encounter with the Devil.

This story is one of the best comic stories written by Edgar Allan Poe. Its important to mention that this story are featuring a verbal interchange between the Devil and a restaurateur who is the main character named Pierre Bon-Bon renowned for his omelets who also believes himself a profound philosopher.

One of the parts of this story is that it satirizes a whole list of classical philosophers including Plato and Aristotle, all of which the Devil has claimed to have eaten their souls.

This story is quite far from the typical and good stories written Edgar Allan Poe, which means that some people might not like it. 

The main character which of course is Pierre Bon-Bon is somehow interesting. Pierre Bon-Bon is equal parts carnal and intellectual. 

The descriptions and details in this story are pretty good. They are so good that they might freak you out because of how good they are. 

This concept of this story is interesting, however Edgar Allan Poe writing style makes it almost interminable to get through. This story really shows that Edgar Allan Poe has a tendency to ramble throughout his writing, needlessly prolonging the dull parts, which in turn leaves hardly any time for the more entertaining aspects within the book.

However this story doesn’t fail to turn the expression “food for thoughts” into “thoughts for food”. However the whole story is another  Edgar Allan Poe story where the Devil makes a grand appearance. 

The narratorial voice was excellent. The plot was comical, which was the intent. But these things are the basic things which makes a story / book good. We need much more to give a story / book 5 stars or even 4. 

I give this story 3 / 5

This story is a clear attack on transcendentalism, which the narrator calls a “disease” afflicting Toby Dammit. The narrator, in fact, sends the bill for Dammit’s funeral expenses to the transcendentalists, who refuse to pay because of their disbelief in evil.

Let me start this review by saying that the main character’s name is the most brilliant name Ive ever heard in my entire life. The main character is named Toby Dammit, the name have blown me away its so good.

The whole story is written in response to the criticism that Edgar Allan Poe was facing regarding his work at the time of writing this story. So this story comes across more or less as “F You” to the people who were trashing him at the time.

In this story Edgar Allan Poe disapproved of transcendentalism together with giving us his believes about all fiction and that it should have a moral in it. Which of corse will not work for some of you.

This story is far from Edgar Allan Poe’s best work but it is still a relatively good, quick and enjoyable read which will give you some Edgar Allan Poe vibe in it.

However the plot might be boring or less interesting for some people because the whole story is about Toby Dammit fighting the devil inside of his head which can more or less translate to Toby Dammit fighting the negativity, overthinking and pessimistic thoughts in his head. However this story is written by Edgar Allan Poe, and nothing is that simple when it comes to Edgar Allan Poe.

I need to give this story points for having some funny moments in it which will make some people laugh. The funny moments are funny because of the sarcasm in it.

The points needs also to be given to this book for showing us that the the GOAT of gothic genre can also be funny and not just the grim and depressed dude. 

I give this story 3 / 5

Believing William Legrand to have gone insane following an insect bite, his friend initially decries his quest for gold as the ramblings of a madman. Yet when Legrand’s conviction fails to waiver, they set off on a bizarre journey, accompanied by Jupiter, Legrand’s loyal and equally skeptical servant. What follows is a strange tale of coded messages, hidden treasure, and uncanny prophecy that will both enthrall and baffle even the most perceptive readers.

It wasn’t the best Edgar Allan Poe story which we can find. But it is the best treasure hunting stories ever written. 

The characters here are oh boy. The main character which is William Legrand is actually pretty well written. But his servant is written the most stereotypical black character style which you can possible imagine. We can say that his character didn’t age well.

If you keep in mind that this story was written before Civil War, where slaves and all that were legal. Then you will see that this story is actually pretty good. And you will also see that this story is a pretty fun and enjoyable adventure story.

This story needs to get points for involving treasure maps, ciphers, pirate gold and buried treasure. Which every adventure book fan will more or less appreciate.

This story also needs to get points for the moody and gothic vibe to it which every horror, mystery, adventure fan will appreciate no matter if they are 10 years old or 80 years old.

Edgar Allan Poe manages in this story to make you unsettled describing the most basic aspects of everyday life.

The writing style is brilliant. The writing style in this story is so good that it makes you feel that you are a part of the story which you read. 

I give this story 3 / 5