The Murders in the Rue Morgue

Paperback, 212 pages

English language

Published Jan. 1, 2009 by Penguin Books.

ISBN:
9780141193137
4 stars (1 review)

Edgar Allan Poe is not only the finest, most terrifying writer of Gothic horror tales ever to have lived, he also wrote extraordinary poems and, with The Murders in the Rue Morgue, invented the detective story, paving the way for Sherlock Holmes. In this new collection, Poe's genius is revealed in its full breadth.

54 editions

Fascinating read

4 stars

I had never read any of Poe's short stories until now, but having done so, I can understand the influence that he has had on so much subsequent fiction, and not only on horror.

With a few exceptions, the stories here were gripping and often horrifying, showing the enduring power of his gothic writing. In 'The Tell-Tale Heart', 'Berenice' and 'William Wilson', he manages to show moral decay, obsession and madness in a way which can be disturbing to read even now.

Though he may best be known for his gothic horror, it is important to recognise the influence of 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' and 'The Purloined Letter', which may have invented the detective story as we know it. They were an enjoyable and intriguing read, even if they were not as well developed as later detective stories like those of Sherlock Holmes.

While some of the stories …