Bibliography of Edgar Allan Poe
Encyclopedia
The works of American author Edgar Allan Poe
(January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) include many poems
, short stories
, and one novel
. His fiction spans multiple genres, including horror fiction
, adventure
, science fiction
, and detective fiction
, a genre he is credited with inventing. These works are generally considered part of the Dark romanticism
movement, a literary reaction to Transcendentalism
. Poe's writing reflects his literary theories: he disagreed with didacticism
and allegory
. Meaning in literature, he said in his criticism, should be an undercurrent just beneath the surface; works whose meanings are too obvious cease to be art. Poe pursued originality in his works, and disliked proverbs. He often included elements of popular pseudoscience
s such as phrenology
and physiognomy
. His most recurring themes deal with questions of death, including its physical signs, the effects of decomposition, concerns of premature burial
, the reanimation of the dead, and mourning
. Though known as a masterful practitioner of Gothic fiction
, Poe did not invent the genre; he was following a long-standing popular tradition.
Poe's literary career began in 1827 with the release of 50 copies of Tamerlane and Other Poems
credited only to "a Bostonian", a collection of early poems which received virtually no attention. In December 1829, Poe released Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems in Baltimore
before delving into short stories
for the first time with "Metzengerstein
" in 1832. His most successful and most widely-read prose during his lifetime was "The Gold-Bug
" which earned him a $100 prize, the most money he received for a single work. One of his most important works, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue
", was published in 1841 and is today considered the first modern detective story. Poe called it a "tale of ratiocination". Poe became a household name with the publication of "The Raven
" in 1845, though it was not a financial success. The publishing industry at the time was a difficult career choice and much of Poe's work was written using themes specifically catered for mass market tastes.
Please note that this list of collections refers only to those printed during Poe's lifetime with his permission. Modern anthologies are not included.
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
(January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) include many poems
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, short stories
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
, and one novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
. His fiction spans multiple genres, including horror fiction
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
, adventure
Adventure novel
The adventure novel is a genre of novels that has adventure, an exciting undertaking involving risk and physical danger, as its main theme.-History:...
, science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, and detective fiction
Detective fiction
Detective fiction is a sub-genre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator , either professional or amateur, investigates a crime, often murder.-In ancient literature:...
, a genre he is credited with inventing. These works are generally considered part of the Dark romanticism
Dark romanticism
Dark Romanticism is a literary subgenre. It has been suggested that Dark Romantics present individuals as prone to sin and self-destruction, not as inherently possessing divinity and wisdom. G. R...
movement, a literary reaction to Transcendentalism
Transcendentalism
Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement that developed in the 1830s and 1840s in the New England region of the United States as a protest against the general state of culture and society, and in particular, the state of intellectualism at Harvard University and the doctrine of the Unitarian...
. Poe's writing reflects his literary theories: he disagreed with didacticism
Didacticism
Didacticism is an artistic philosophy that emphasizes instructional and informative qualities in literature and other types of art. The term has its origin in the Ancient Greek word διδακτικός , "related to education/teaching." Originally, signifying learning in a fascinating and intriguing...
and allegory
Allegory
Allegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation...
. Meaning in literature, he said in his criticism, should be an undercurrent just beneath the surface; works whose meanings are too obvious cease to be art. Poe pursued originality in his works, and disliked proverbs. He often included elements of popular pseudoscience
Pseudoscience
Pseudoscience is a claim, belief, or practice which is presented as scientific, but which does not adhere to a valid scientific method, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility, cannot be reliably tested, or otherwise lacks scientific status...
s such as phrenology
Phrenology
Phrenology is a pseudoscience primarily focused on measurements of the human skull, based on the concept that the brain is the organ of the mind, and that certain brain areas have localized, specific functions or modules...
and physiognomy
Physiognomy
Physiognomy is the assessment of a person's character or personality from their outer appearance, especially the face...
. His most recurring themes deal with questions of death, including its physical signs, the effects of decomposition, concerns of premature burial
Premature burial
Premature burial, also known as live burial, burial alive, or vivisepulture, means to be buried while still alive. Animals or humans may be buried alive accidentally or intentionally...
, the reanimation of the dead, and mourning
Mourning
Mourning is, in the simplest sense, synonymous with grief over the death of someone. The word is also used to describe a cultural complex of behaviours in which the bereaved participate or are expected to participate...
. Though known as a masterful practitioner of Gothic fiction
Gothic fiction
Gothic fiction, sometimes referred to as Gothic horror, is a genre or mode of literature that combines elements of both horror and romance. Gothicism's origin is attributed to English author Horace Walpole, with his 1764 novel The Castle of Otranto, subtitled "A Gothic Story"...
, Poe did not invent the genre; he was following a long-standing popular tradition.
Poe's literary career began in 1827 with the release of 50 copies of Tamerlane and Other Poems
Tamerlane and Other Poems
Tamerlane and Other Poems is the first published work by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. The short collection of poems was first published in 1827. Today, it is believed only 12 copies of the collection still exist....
credited only to "a Bostonian", a collection of early poems which received virtually no attention. In December 1829, Poe released Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
before delving into short stories
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
for the first time with "Metzengerstein
Metzengerstein
"Metzengerstein", also called "Metzengerstein: A Tale In Imitation of the German", was the first short story by American writer and poet Edgar Allan Poe to see print. It was first published in the pages of Philadelphia's Saturday Courier magazine, in 1832...
" in 1832. His most successful and most widely-read prose during his lifetime was "The Gold-Bug
The Gold-Bug
"The Gold-Bug" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe. Set on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, the plot follows William Legrand, who was recently bitten by a gold-colored bug. His servant Jupiter fears him to be going insane and goes to Legrand's friend, an unnamed narrator who agrees to visit his...
" which earned him a $100 prize, the most money he received for a single work. One of his most important works, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue
The Murders in the Rue Morgue
"The Murders in the Rue Morgue" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe published in Graham's Magazine in 1841. It has been claimed as the first detective story; Poe referred to it as one of his "tales of ratiocination". Two works that share some similarities predate Poe's stories, including Das...
", was published in 1841 and is today considered the first modern detective story. Poe called it a "tale of ratiocination". Poe became a household name with the publication of "The Raven
The Raven
"The Raven" is a narrative poem by American writer Edgar Allan Poe, first published in January 1845. It is often noted for its musicality, stylized language, and supernatural atmosphere. It tells of a talking raven's mysterious visit to a distraught lover, tracing the man's slow descent into madness...
" in 1845, though it was not a financial success. The publishing industry at the time was a difficult career choice and much of Poe's work was written using themes specifically catered for mass market tastes.
Poetry
| "Poetry" | 1824 | Never published in Poe's lifetime | |
| "O, Tempora! O, Mores!" | 1825 | Never published during Poe's lifetime | Not authenticated as by Poe |
| "Tamerlane Tamerlane (poem) "Tamerlane" is an epic poem by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in the 1827 collection Tamerlane and Other Poems. That collection, with only 50 copies printed, was not credited with the author's real name but by "A Bostonian." The poem's original version was 403 lines but trimmed down to 223 lines... " |
July 1827 | Tamerlane and Other Poems Tamerlane and Other Poems Tamerlane and Other Poems is the first published work by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. The short collection of poems was first published in 1827. Today, it is believed only 12 copies of the collection still exist.... |
|
| "Song" | July 1827 | Tamerlane and Other Poems | |
| "Imitation" | July 1827 | Tamerlane and Other Poems | |
| "A Dream" | July 1827 | Tamerlane and Other Poems | |
| "The Lake" | July 1827 | Tamerlane and Other Poems | |
| "Spirits of the Dead" | July 1827 | Tamerlane and Other Poems | |
| "Evening Star" | July 1827 | Tamerlane and Other Poems | |
| "Dreams" | July 1827 | Tamerlane and Other Poems | |
| "Stanzas" | July 1827 | Tamerlane and Other Poems | |
| "The Happiest Day" | September 15, 1827 | The North American | |
| "To Margaret" | circa 1827 | Never published during Poe's lifetime | |
| "Alone" | 1829 | Never published during Poe's lifetime | |
| "To Isaac Lea" | circa 1829 | Never published in Poe's lifetime | |
| "To The River ——" | 1829 | Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems | |
| "To ——" | 1829 | Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems | Begins "The bowers whereat, in dreams..." |
| "To ——" | 1829 | Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems | Begins "Should my early life seem..." |
| "Romance" | 1829 | Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems | |
| "Fairy-Land" | 1829 | Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems | |
| "To Science" | 1829 | Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems | |
| "Al Aaraaf Al Aaraaf "Al Aaraaf" is an early poem by American writer Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1829. It is based on stories from the Qur'an, and tells of the afterlife in a place called Al Aaraaf... " |
1829 | Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems | |
| "An Acrostic" | 1829 | Never published during Poe's lifetime | |
| "Elizabeth" | 1829 | Never published during Poe's lifetime | |
| "To Helen To Helen "To Helen" is the first of two poems to carry that name written by Edgar Allan Poe. The 15-line poem was written in honor of Jane Stanard, the mother of a childhood friend. It was first published in 1831 collection Poems of Edgar A. Poe then reprinted in 1836 in the Southern Literary... " |
1831 | Poems by Edgar A. Poe | |
| "A Paean" | 1831 | Poems by Edgar A. Poe | |
| "The Sleeper" | 1831 | Poems by Edgar A. Poe | |
| "The City in the Sea The City in the Sea "The City in the Sea" is a poem by Edgar Allan Poe. The final version was published in 1845, but an earlier version was published as "The Doomed City" in 1831 and, later, as "The City of Sin". The poem tells the story of a city ruled by Death using common elements from Gothic fiction... " |
1831 | Poems by Edgar A. Poe | |
| "The Valley of Unrest" | 1831 | Poems by Edgar A. Poe | |
| "Israfel" | 1831 | Poems by Edgar A. Poe | |
| "Enigma" | February 2, 1833 | Baltimore Saturday Visiter Baltimore Saturday Visiter The Baltimore Saturday Visiter was a weekly periodical in Baltimore, Maryland in the 19th century. It published some of the early work of Baltimore writer Edgar Allan Poe.-History:... |
|
| "Fanny" | May 18, 1833 | Baltimore Saturday Visiter | |
| "The Coliseum" | October 26, 1833 | Baltimore Saturday Visiter | |
| "Serenade" | April 20, 1833 | Baltimore Saturday Visiter | |
| "To One in Paradise" | January 1834 | Godey's Lady's Book Godey's Lady's Book Godey's Lady's Book, alternatively known as Godey's Magazine and Lady's Book, was a United States magazine which was published in Philadelphia. It was the most widely circulated magazine in the period before the Civil War. Its circulation rose from 70,000 in the 1840s to 150,000 in 1860... |
|
| "Hymn" | April 1835 | Southern Literary Messenger Southern Literary Messenger The Southern Literary Messenger was a periodical published in Richmond, Virginia, from 1834 until June 1864. Each issue carried a subtitle of "Devoted to Every Department of Literature and the Fine Arts" or some variation and included poetry, fiction, non-fiction, reviews, and historical notes... |
|
| "To Elizabeth" | September 1835 | Southern Literary Messenger | Republished as "To F——s S. O——d" in 1845 |
| "May Queen Ode" | circa 1836 | Never published in Poe's lifetime | |
| "Spiritual Song" | 1836 | Never published during Poe's lifetime | |
| "Latin Hymn" | March 1836 | Southern Literary Messenger | |
| "Bridal Ballad" | January 1837 | Southern Literary Messenger | Originally published as "Ballad" |
| "To Zante" | January 1837 | Southern Literary Messenger | |
| "The Haunted Palace The Haunted Palace (poem) "The Haunted Palace" is a poem by Edgar Allan Poe. The 48-line poem was first released in the April 1839 issue of Nathan Brooks' American Museum magazine... " |
April 1839 | American Museum | |
| "Silence–A Sonnet" | January 4, 1840 | Saturday Courier | |
| "Lines on Joe Locke" | February 28, 1843 | Saturday Museum | |
| "The Conqueror Worm The Conqueror Worm "The Conqueror Worm" is a poem by Edgar Allan Poe about human mortality and the inevitability of death. It was first published separately in Graham's Magazine in 1843, but quickly became associated with Poe's short story "Ligeia" after Poe added the poem to a revised publication of the story in 1845... " |
January 1843 | Graham's Magazine Graham's Magazine Graham's Magazine was a nineteenth century periodical based in Philadelphia established by George Rex Graham. It was alternatively referred to as Graham's Lady's and Gentleman's Magazine , Graham's Magazine of Literature and Art , Graham's American Monthly Magazine of Literature and Art Graham's... |
|
| "Lenore Lenore "Lenore" is a poem by the American author Edgar Allan Poe. It began as a different poem, "A Paean", and was not published as "Lenore" until 1843.- Interpretation :... " |
February 1843 | The Pioneer | |
| "A Campaign Song" | 1844 | Never published during Poe's lifetime | |
| "Dream-Land" | June 1844 | Graham's Magazine | |
| "Impromptu. To Kate Carol" | April 26, 1845 | Broadway Journal | |
| "To F——" | April 1845 | Broadway Journal Broadway Journal The Broadway Journal was a short-lived New York City-based periodical founded by Charles Frederick Briggs and John Bisco in 1844. A year later, the publication was bought by Edgar Allan Poe, becoming the only magazine he ever owned, though it failed after only a few months under his... |
Republished as "To Frances" in the September 6, 1845, issue of the Broadway Journal |
| "Eulalie Eulalie "Eulalie," or "Eulalie - A Song," is a poem by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in the July 1845 issue of The American Review and reprinted shortly thereafter in the August 9, 1845 issue of the Broadway Journal.-Summary:... " |
July 1845 | American Review: A Whig Journal American Review: A Whig Journal The American Review, alternatively known as The American Review: A Whig Journal and The American Whig Review, was a New York City-based monthly periodical. Published by Wiley and Putnam, it was owned and operated by George H. Colton.-History:... |
|
| "Epigram for Wall Street" | January 23, 1845 | Evening Mirror | |
| "The Raven The Raven "The Raven" is a narrative poem by American writer Edgar Allan Poe, first published in January 1845. It is often noted for its musicality, stylized language, and supernatural atmosphere. It tells of a talking raven's mysterious visit to a distraught lover, tracing the man's slow descent into madness... " |
January 29, 1845 | Evening Mirror | |
| "The Divine Right of Kings" | October 1845 | Graham's Magazine | |
| "A Valentine" | February 21, 1846 | Evening Mirror | Originally published as "To Her Whose Name Is Written Below" |
| "Beloved Physician" | 1847 | Never published during Poe's lifetime | Incomplete |
| "Deep in Earth" | 1847 | Never published during Poe's lifetime | Incomplete |
| "To M. L. S—— (1847)" | March 13, 1847 | The Home Journal | |
| "Ulalume Ulalume "Ulalume" is a poem written by Edgar Allan Poe in 1847. Much like a few of Poe's other poems , "Ulalume" focuses on the narrator's loss of a beautiful woman due to her death. Poe originally wrote the poem as an elocution piece and, as such, the poem is known for its focus on sound... " |
December 1847 | American Whig Review | |
| "Lines on Ale" | 1848 | Never published during Poe's lifetime | |
| "To Marie Louise" | March 1848 | Columbian Magazine | |
| "An Enigma" | March 1848 | Union Magazine of Literature and Art | |
| "To Helen" | November 1848 | Sartain's Union Magazine | |
| "A Dream Within A Dream A Dream Within a Dream "A Dream Within a Dream" is a poem written by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1849. The poem is 24 lines, divided into two stanzas. The poem questions the way one can distinguish between reality and fantasy, asking, "Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream?"-Analysis:"A Dream... " |
March 31, 1849 | The Flag of Our Union The Flag of Our Union The Flag of our Union was a popular, weekly newspaper published in Boston, Massachusetts in the mid-19th century. In addition to news, it published works of fiction and poetry, including contributions from notable writers.-Brief history:... |
|
| "Eldorado Eldorado (poem) "Eldorado" is a ballad poem by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in April 1849.-Summary:The poem describes the journey of a "gallant knight" in search of the legendary El Dorado. The knight spends much of his life on this quest... " |
April 21, 1849 | Flag of Our Union | |
| "For Annie" | April 28, 1849 | Flag of Our Union | |
| "To My Mother" | July 7, 1849 | Flag of Our Union | |
| "Annabel Lee Annabel Lee "Annabel Lee" is the last complete poem composed by American author Edgar Allan Poe. Like many of Poe's poems, it explores the theme of the death of a beautiful woman. The narrator, who fell in love with Annabel Lee when they were young, has a love for her so strong that even angels are jealous. He... " |
October 9, 1849 | New York Daily Tribune | Sold before Poe's death but published posthumously |
| "The Bells The Bells "The Bells" is a heavily onomatopoeic poem by Edgar Allan Poe which was not published until after his death in 1849. It is perhaps best known for the diacopic repetition of the word "bells." The poem has four parts to it; each part becomes darker and darker as the poem progresses from "the jingling... " |
November 1849 | Sartain's Union Magazine | Sold before Poe's death but published posthumously |
Tales
| "Metzengerstein Metzengerstein "Metzengerstein", also called "Metzengerstein: A Tale In Imitation of the German", was the first short story by American writer and poet Edgar Allan Poe to see print. It was first published in the pages of Philadelphia's Saturday Courier magazine, in 1832... " |
January 14, 1832 | Philadelphia Saturday Courier | Horror / Satire | First published anonymously with the subtitle "A Tale in Imitation of the German" |
| "The Duc De L'Omelette" | March 3, 1832 | Philadelphia Saturday Courier | Humor | Originally "The Duke of l'Omelette" |
| "A Tale of Jerusalem" | June 9, 1832 | Philadelphia Saturday Courier | Humor | |
| "Loss of Breath" | November 10, 1832 | Philadelphia Saturday Courier | Humor | Originally "A Decided Loss" |
| "Bon-Bon Bon-Bon (short story) "Bon-Bon" is a comedic short story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in December 1832 in the Philadelphia Saturday Courier. Originally called "The Bargain Lost", the story follows a man named Pierre Bon-Bon, who believes himself a profound philosopher, and his encounter with the devil... " |
December 1, 1832 | Philadelphia Saturday Courier | Humor | Originally "The Bargain Lost" |
| "MS. Found in a Bottle MS. Found in a Bottle "MS. Found in a Bottle" is an 1833 short story by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. 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... " |
October 19, 1833 | Baltimore Saturday Visiter Baltimore Saturday Visiter The Baltimore Saturday Visiter was a weekly periodical in Baltimore, Maryland in the 19th century. It published some of the early work of Baltimore writer Edgar Allan Poe.-History:... |
Adventure | |
| "The Assignation" | January 1834 | Godey's Lady's Book | Horror | Originally "The Visionary", published anonymously |
| "Berenice Berenice (short story) "Berenice" is a short horror story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in the Southern Literary Messenger in 1835. The story follows a man named Egaeus who is preparing to marry his cousin Berenice. He has a tendency to fall into periods of intense focus during which he seems to separate himself... " |
March 1835 | Southern Literary Messenger Southern Literary Messenger The Southern Literary Messenger was a periodical published in Richmond, Virginia, from 1834 until June 1864. Each issue carried a subtitle of "Devoted to Every Department of Literature and the Fine Arts" or some variation and included poetry, fiction, non-fiction, reviews, and historical notes... |
Horror | |
| "Morella Morella "Morella" is a short story in the Gothic horror genre by 19th-century American author and critic Edgar Allan Poe.-Plot summary:An unnamed narrator marries Morella, a woman with great scholarly knowledge who delves into studies of the German philosophers Fichte and Schelling, dealing with the... " |
April 1835 | Southern Literary Messenger | Horror | |
| "Lionizing" | May 1835 | Southern Literary Messenger | Satire | Subtitle: "A Tale" |
| "The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall "The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe published in the June 1835 issue of the monthly magazine Southern Literary Messenger, and intended by Poe to be a hoax.... " |
June 1835 | Southern Literary Messenger | Adventure | |
| "King Pest" | September 1835 | Southern Literary Messenger | Horror / Humor | Originally "King Pest the First", published anonymously |
| "Shadow - A Parable" | September 1835 | Southern Literary Messenger | Horror | Published anonymously |
| "Four Beasts in One - The Homo-Cameleopard" | March 1836 | Southern Literary Messenger | Humor | Originally "Epimanes" |
| "Mystification" | June 1837 | American Monthly Magazine | Humor | Originally "Von Jung, the Mystific" |
| "Silence - A Fable" | 1838 | Baltimore Book | Humor | Originally "Siope - A Fable" |
| "Ligeia Ligeia "Ligeia" is an early short story by American writer Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1838. The story follows an unnamed narrator and his wife Ligeia, a beautiful and intelligent raven-haired woman. She falls ill, composes "The Conqueror Worm", and quotes lines attributed to Joseph Glanvill ... " |
September 1838 | Baltimore American Museum | Horror | Republished in the February 15, 1845 issue of the New York World, included the poem "The Conqueror Worm" as words written by Ligeia on her death-bed |
| "How to Write a Blackwood Article" | November 1838 | Baltimore American Museum | Parody | An introduction to "A Predicament A Predicament (short story) "A Predicament" is a humorous short story by Edgar Allan Poe, usually combined with its companion piece "How to Write a Blackwood Article." It was originally titled "The Scythe of Time".-Plot summary:... " |
| "A Predicament A Predicament (short story) "A Predicament" is a humorous short story by Edgar Allan Poe, usually combined with its companion piece "How to Write a Blackwood Article." It was originally titled "The Scythe of Time".-Plot summary:... " |
November 1838 | Baltimore American Museum | Parody | Companion to "How to Write A Blackwood Article," originally "The Scythe of Time" |
| "The Devil in the Belfry The Devil in the Belfry "The Devil in the Belfry" is a satirical short story by Edgar Allan Poe. It was first published in 1839.-Plot summary:In an isolated town called Vondervotteimittis , the punctilious inhabitants seem to be concerned with nothing but clocks and cabbage... " |
May 18, 1839 | Saturday Chronicle and Mirror of the Times | Humor / Satire | |
| "The Man That Was Used Up The Man That Was Used Up "The Man That Was Used Up," sometimes subtitled "A Tale of the Late Bugaboo and Kickapoo Campaign," is a short story and satire by Edgar Allan Poe. It was first published in 1839 in Burton's Gentleman's Magazine.... " |
August 1839 | Burton's Gentleman's Magazine Burton's Gentleman's Magazine Burton's Gentleman's Magazine or, more simply, Burton's Magazine, was a literary publication published in Philadelphia in 1837-1841. Its founder was William Evans Burton, an English-born immigrant to the United States who also managed a theatre and was a minor actor.-Overview:The magazine included... |
Satire | |
| "The Fall of the House of Usher The Fall of the House of Usher "The Fall of the House of Usher" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in September 1839 in Burton's Gentleman's Magazine. It was slightly revised in 1840 for the collection Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque... " |
September 1839 | Burton's Gentleman's Magazine | Horror | |
| "William Wilson William Wilson (short story) "William Wilson" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1839, with a setting inspired by Poe's formative years outside of London. The tale follows the theme of the doppelgänger and is written in a style based on rationality... " |
October 1839 | The Gift: A Christmas and New Year's Present for 1840 | Horror | |
| "The Conversation of Eiros and Charmion The Conversation of Eiros and Charmion "The Conversation of Eiros And Charmion" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, an apocalyptic science fiction story first published in Burton's Gentleman's Magazine in 1839.-Plot summary:... " |
December 1839 | Burton's Gentleman's Magazine | Science fiction | |
| "Why the Little Frenchman Wears His Hand in a Sling" | 1840 | Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque is a collection of previously published short stories by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1840.-Publication:It was published by the Philadelphia firm Lea & Blanchard and released in two volumes... |
Humor | |
| "The Business Man The Business Man "The Business Man" is a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe about a fictitious businessman boasting of his accomplishments. It was published in February 1840 in Burton's Gentleman's Magazine. The story questions the concept of a self-made man.... " |
February 1840 | Burton's Gentleman's Magazine | Humor | Originally "Peter Pendulum" |
| "The Man of the Crowd" | December 1840 | Graham's Magazine | Horror | |
| "The Murders in the Rue Morgue The Murders in the Rue Morgue "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe published in Graham's Magazine in 1841. It has been claimed as the first detective story; Poe referred to it as one of his "tales of ratiocination". Two works that share some similarities predate Poe's stories, including Das... " |
April 1841 | Graham's Magazine Graham's Magazine Graham's Magazine was a nineteenth century periodical based in Philadelphia established by George Rex Graham. It was alternatively referred to as Graham's Lady's and Gentleman's Magazine , Graham's Magazine of Literature and Art , Graham's American Monthly Magazine of Literature and Art Graham's... |
Detective fiction Detective fiction Detective fiction is a sub-genre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator , either professional or amateur, investigates a crime, often murder.-In ancient literature:... |
|
| "A Descent into the Maelström A Descent into the Maelstrom "A Descent into the Maelström" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe. In the tale, a man recounts how he survived a shipwreck and a whirlpool. It has been grouped with Poe's tales of ratiocination and also labeled an early form of science fiction.-Plot:... " |
April 1841 | Graham's Magazine | Adventure | |
| "The Island of the Fay" | June 1841 | Graham's Magazine | Fantasy | |
| "The Colloquy of Monos and Una" | August 1841 | Graham's Magazine | Science fiction | |
| "Never Bet the Devil Your Head" | September 1841 | Graham's Magazine | Satire | Subtitled "A Tale with a Moral" |
| "Eleonora Eleonora (short story) "Eleonora" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1842 in Philadelphia in the literary annual The Gift. It is often regarded as somewhat autobiographical and has a relatively "happy" ending.- Plot summary :... " |
Fall 1841 | The Gift for 1842 | Romance | |
| "Three Sundays in a Week" | November 27, 1841 | Saturday Evening Post | Humor | Originally "A Succession of Sundays" |
| "The Oval Portrait The Oval Portrait "The Oval Portrait" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe involving the disturbing circumstances surrounding a portrait in a chateau. It is one of his shortest stories, filling only two pages in its initial publication in 1842.-Plot summary:... " |
April 1842 | Graham's Magazine | Horror | Originally "Life in Death" |
| "The Masque of the Red Death The Masque of the Red Death "The Masque of the Red Death", originally published as "The Mask of the Red Death" , is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe. The story follows Prince Prospero's attempts to avoid a dangerous plague known as the Red Death by hiding in his abbey. He, along with many other wealthy nobles, has a... " |
May 1842 | Graham's Magazine | Horror | Originally "The Mask of the Red Death" |
| "The Landscape Garden" | October 1842 | Snowden's Ladies' Companion | Sketch | Later incorporated into "The Domain of Arnheim" |
| "The Mystery of Marie Rogêt The Mystery of Marie Roget "The Mystery of Marie Rogêt", often subtitled A Sequel to "The Murders in the Rue Morgue", is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe written in 1842. This is the first murder mystery based on the details of a real crime. It first appeared in Snowden's Ladies' Companion in three installments, November and... " |
November 1842, December 1842, February 1843 (serialized) | Snowden's Ladies' Companion | Detective fiction | Originally subtitled "A Sequel to 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue'" |
| "The Pit and the Pendulum The Pit and the Pendulum "The Pit and the Pendulum" is a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe and first published in 1842 in the literary annual The Gift: A Christmas and New Year's Present for 1843. The story is about the torments endured by a prisoner of the Spanish Inquisition, though Poe skews historical facts. The... " |
1842–1843 | The Gift: A Christmas and New Year's Present | Horror | |
| "The Tell-Tale Heart The Tell-Tale Heart "The Tell-Tale Heart" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe first published in 1843. It follows an unnamed narrator who insists on his sanity after murdering an old man with a "vulture eye". The murder is carefully calculated, and the murderer hides the body by dismembering it and hiding it under the... " |
January 1843 | The Pioneer | Horror | |
| "The Gold-Bug The Gold-Bug "The Gold-Bug" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe. Set on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, the plot follows William Legrand, who was recently bitten by a gold-colored bug. His servant Jupiter fears him to be going insane and goes to Legrand's friend, an unnamed narrator who agrees to visit his... " |
June 1843 | Dollar Newspaper | Adventure | |
| "The Black Cat The Black Cat (short story) "The Black Cat" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe. It was first published in the August 19, 1843, edition of The Saturday Evening Post. It is a study of the psychology of guilt, often paired in analysis with Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart"... " |
August 19, 1843 | United States Saturday Post | Horror | |
| "Diddling" | October 14, 1843 | Philadelphia Saturday Courier | Parody | Originally "Raising the Wind; or, Diddling Considered as One of the Exact Sciences" |
| "The Spectacles The Spectacles (short story) "The Spectacles" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, published in 1844. It is one of Poe's comedy tales.-Plot summary :The narrator, 22-year old Napoleon Buonaparte, changes his last name from "Froissart" to "Simpson" as a requirement to inherit a large sum from a distant cousin, Adolphus Simpson.... " |
March 27, 1844 | Dollar Newspaper | Humor | |
| "A Tale of the Ragged Mountains A Tale of the Ragged Mountains "A Tale of the Ragged Mountains" is a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe partially based on his experiences while a student at the University of Virginia. Set near Charlottesville, it is the only one of Poe's stories to take place in Virginia... " |
April 1844 | Godey's Lady's Book | Science fiction, Adventure | |
| "The Premature Burial The Premature Burial "The Premature Burial" is a horror short story on the theme of being buried alive, written by Edgar Allan Poe and published in 1844 in The Philadelphia Dollar Newspaper. Fear of being buried alive was common in this period and Poe was taking advantage of the public interest... " |
July 31, 1844 | Dollar Newspaper | Horror | |
| "Mesmeric Revelation" | August 1844 | Columbian Magazine | Science fiction | |
| "The Oblong Box The Oblong Box (short story) "The Oblong Box" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1844, about a sea voyage and a mysterious box.-Plot summary:The story opens with the unnamed narrator recounting a summer sea voyage from Charleston, South Carolina to New York City aboard the ship Independence... " |
September 1844 | Godey's Lady's Book | Horror | |
| "The Angel of the Odd The Angel of the Odd "The Angel of the Odd" is a satirical short story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1844.-Plot summary:The story follows an unnamed narrator who reads a story about a man who died after accidentally sucking a needle down his throat. He rages at the gullibility of humanity for believing such a... " |
October 1844 | Columbian Magazine | Humor | Subtitled "An Extravaganza" |
| "Thou Art the Man Thou Art the Man "Thou Art the Man", originally titled "Thou Art the Man!", is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1844. It is an early experiment in detective fiction, like "The Murders in the Rue Morgue", though it is generally considered an inferior story.The plot involves a man wrongfully... " |
November 1844 | Godey's Lady's Book | Detective fiction / Satire | |
| "The Literary Life of Thingum Bob, Esq." | December 1844 | Southern Literary Messenger | Humor | |
| "The Purloined Letter The Purloined Letter "The Purloined Letter" is a short story by American author Edgar Allan Poe. It is the third of his three detective stories featuring the fictional C. Auguste Dupin, the other two being "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" and "The Mystery of Marie Rogêt". These stories are considered to be important... " |
1844–1845 | The Gift: A Christmas and New Year's Present | Detective fiction | |
| "The Thousand-and-Second Tale of Scheherazade" | February 1845 | Godey's Lady's Book | Humor | Meant as a sequel to One Thousand and One Nights |
| "Some Words with a Mummy" | April 1845 | American Review: A Whig Journal | Satire | |
| "The Power of Words" | June 1845 | Democratic Review | Science fiction | |
| "The Imp of the Perverse The Imp of the Perverse (short story) "The Imp of the Perverse" is a short story that begins as an essay written by 19th century American author and critic Edgar Allan Poe. It discusses the narrator's self-destructive impulses, embodied as the Imp of the Perverse... " |
July 1845 | Graham's Magazine | Horror | |
| "The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether "The System of Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether" is a comedic short story written by American author Edgar Allan Poe.-Plot summary:The story follows an unnamed narrator who visits a mental institution in southern France known for a revolutionary new method of treating mental illnesses called the... " |
November 1845 | Graham's Magazine | Humor | |
| "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar" is a short story by American author Edgar Allan Poe about a mesmerist who puts a man in a suspended hypnotic state at the moment of death. An example of a tale of suspense and horror, it is also, to a certain degree, a hoax as it was published without claiming... " |
December 1845 | The American Review | Horror / Science fiction / Hoax | Originally "The Facts of M. Valdemar's Case" |
| "The Sphinx" | January 1846 | Arthur's Ladies Magazine | Satire | |
| "The Cask of Amontillado The Cask of Amontillado "The Cask of Amontillado" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in the November 1846 issue of Godey's Lady's Book.... " |
November 1846 | Godey's Lady's Book | Horror | |
| "The Domain of Arnheim" | March 1847 | Columbian Lady's and Gentleman's Magazine | Sketch | Expansion of previous story "The Landscape Garden" |
| "Mellonta Tauta" | February 1849 | Flag of Our Union | Science fiction / Hoax | |
| "Hop-Frog Hop-Frog "Hop-Frog" is a short story by American writer Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1849. The title character, a dwarf taken from his homeland, becomes the jester of a king particularly fond of practical jokes... " |
March 17, 1849 | Flag of Our Union | Horror | Subtitled "Or, The Eight Chained Ourang-Outangs" |
| "Von Kempelen and His Discovery" | April 14, 1849 | Flag of Our Union | Hoax | |
| "X-ing a Paragrab" | May 12, 1849 | Flag of Our Union | Humor | |
| "Landor's Cottage" | June 9, 1849 | Flag of Our Union | Sketch | Originally "Landor's Cottage: A Pendant to 'The Domain of Arnheim'" |
Essays
- "Maelzel's Chess PlayerMaelzel's Chess Player"Maelzel's Chess Player" is an essay by Edgar Allan Poe exposing a fraudulent automaton chess player called The Turk, which had become famous in Europe and the United States and toured widely. The fake automaton was invented by Wolfgang von Kempelen in 1769 and was brought to the U.S...
" (April 1836 – Southern Literary Messenger) - "The Philosophy of FurnitureThe Philosophy of Furniture"The Philosophy of Furniture" is an essay written by American author Edgar Allan Poe published in 1840. An unusual work by Poe, whose more typical works include horror tales like "The Tell-Tale Heart," the essay is essentially Poe's theories on interior decorating.-Overview:Poe begins by suggesting...
" (May 1840 – Burton's Gentleman's Magazine) - "A Few Words on Secret Writing" (July 1841 – Graham's Magazine)
- "Morning on the WissahicconMorning on the Wissahiccon"Morning on the Wissahiccon," also called "The Elk," is an 1844 work by Edgar Allan Poe describing the natural beauty of Wissahickon Creek which feeds into the Schuylkill River in eastern Pennsylvania...
" (1844 – The OpalThe Opal (annual)The Opal, A Pure Gift for the Holy Days, was an annual gift book, founded by Rufus Wilmot Griswold and published in New York by John C. Riker, from 1844 to 1849. Content included short stories, illustrations and poems....
) - "The Balloon-HoaxThe Balloon-Hoax"The Balloon-Hoax" is the title used in collections and anthologies of a newspaper article written by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1844. Originally presented as a true story, it detailed European Monck Mason's trip across the Atlantic Ocean in only three days in a gas balloon...
" (April 13, 1844) — A newspaper article that was actually a journalistic hoaxHoaxA hoax is a deliberately fabricated falsehood made to masquerade as truth. It is distinguishable from errors in observation or judgment, or rumors, urban legends, pseudosciences or April Fools' Day events that are passed along in good faith by believers or as jokes.-Definition:The British... - "The Philosophy of CompositionThe Philosophy of Composition"The Philosophy of Composition" is an 1846 essay written by American writer Edgar Allan Poe that elucidates a theory about how good writers write when they write well. He concludes that length, "unity of effect" and a logical method are important considerations for good writing. He also makes the...
" (April 1846 – Graham's Magazine) - "Eureka: A Prose Poem" (March 1848 – Wiley & Putnam)
- "The Rationale of Verse" (October 1848 – Southern Literary Messenger)
- "The Poetic PrincipleThe Poetic Principle"The Poetic Principle" is an essay by Edgar Allan Poe, written near the end of his life and published posthumously in 1850, the year after his death. It is a work of literary criticism, in which Poe presents his literary theory...
" (December 1848 – Southern Literary Messenger)
Novels
- The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of NantucketThe Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of NantucketThe Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket is the only complete novel written by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. The work relates the tale of the young Arthur Gordon Pym, who stows away aboard a whaling ship called the Grampus...
(First two installments, January/February 1837 – Southern Literary Messenger, issued as complete novel in July 1838) - The Journal of Julius RodmanThe Journal of Julius RodmanThe Journal of Julius Rodman, Being an Account of the First Passage across the Rocky Mountains of North America Ever Achieved by Civilized Man is an unfinished serial novel by American author Edgar Allan Poe published in 1840.-Plot:...
(First six installments, January–June 1840 – Burton's Gentleman's Magazine) — Incomplete
Plays
- PolitianPolitian (play)Politian is the only play known to have been written by Edgar Allan Poe, composed in 1835 but never completed.The play is a fictionalized version of a true event in Kentucky: the murder of Solomon P. Sharp by Jereboam O. Beauchamp in 1825. The so-called "Kentucky Tragedy" became a national...
(Two installments, December 1835–January 1836 – Southern Literary Messenger) — Incomplete
Other
- The Conchologist's First BookThe Conchologist's First BookThe Conchologist's First Book is an illustrated textbook on conchology issued in 1839, 1840, and 1845. The book was originally printed under Edgar Allan Poe's name. Poe never claimed, however, that he was the author. Poe's condensed version was based on the textbook by Thomas Wyatt, an English...
(1839) — A textbook on sea shells to which Poe lent his name as author, though he did not write it - The Light-HouseThe Light-House"The Light-House" is the unofficial title of the last work written by Edgar Allan Poe. He did not live to finish it, and had barely begun it by the time of his death in 1849.-Plot summary:...
(1849, never published in Poe's lifetime) — An incomplete work which may have been intended to be a short story or a novel
Collections
- Tamerlane and Other PoemsTamerlane and Other PoemsTamerlane and Other Poems is the first published work by American writer Edgar Allan Poe. The short collection of poems was first published in 1827. Today, it is believed only 12 copies of the collection still exist....
(credited by "a Bostonian") (1827) - Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems (1829)
- Poems (1831, printed as "second edition")
- Tales of the Grotesque and ArabesqueTales of the Grotesque and ArabesqueTales of the Grotesque and Arabesque is a collection of previously published short stories by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1840.-Publication:It was published by the Philadelphia firm Lea & Blanchard and released in two volumes...
(December 1839) - The Prose Romances of Edgar A. Poe (1843)
- Tales (1845, Wiley & Putnam)
- The Raven and Other Poems (1845, Wiley & Putnam)
External links
- The Works of Edgar Allan Poe at the Edgar Allan Poe Society online — includes multiple versions of fiction, essays, criticisms
- Complete list of Poe's contributions to various journals and magazines at bartleby.comBartleby.comBartleby.com is an electronic text archive, headquartered in New York and named after Herman Melville's story "Bartleby the Scrivener". It was founded under the name "Project Bartleby" in January 1993 by Steven H. van Leeuwen as a personal, non-profit collection of classic literature on the website...
- Complete fiction works of Poe at www.web-books.com