A dramatic tale of destruction.

Edgar Allan Poe's first published short story (January 1932).

In a writing career that spanned barely two decades (he died in his 41st year) Edgar Allan Poe penned over 70 short stories. These the American incessantly revised over the years and many became standards of the short form (like ‘The Fall Of The House of Usher’ or ‘The Pit and the Pendulum’).

But for our five fictional tales, we burrow down amongst Poe’s lesser-known, and often dark, gems.

Read by Owen Teale.

Abridger: Pete Nichols

Producer: Karen Rose

Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra by Sweet Talk Productions and first broadcast in March 2019. Show less