The Fall of the House of Usher & The Pit and the Pendulum

By: Edgar Allan Poe

Narrated by: William Roberts

The horrors of the Spanish Inquisition, with its dungeon of death, and the overhanging gloom on the House of Usher demonstrate unforgettably the unique imagination of Edgar Allan Poe. Unerringly, he touches upon some of our greatest nightmares: Premature burial, ghostly transformation, words from beyond the grave. Written in the 1840s, they have retained their power to shock and frighten even now.

Also in this collection of Poe's tales of mystery and imagination: "The Black Cat", "The Facts in the Case of M Valdemar", "The Cask of Amontillado", "Ligeia", "The Tell-Tale Heart", "The Masque of the Red Death", "The Premature Burial", and "The Raven".

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2003 NAXOS AudioBooks Ltd. (P)2003 NAXOS AudioBooks Ltd.

Critic reviews

"Those who thought only Basil Rathbone could narrate Poe are in for a surprise and a treat. The no-nonsense William Roberts narrates a production mercifully free of frills. No unnecessary music or sound effects interfere with the brilliance of the writing or the purity of the performance." ( AudioFile)

Pretty Good

Overall this was a very good audio book. The narrator can be a bit dramatic at times, almost to the point of being slightly humorous. However, his earnest desire to communicate Poe's gloomy atmosphere deserves a lot of credit. My rating would be a little higher if they cut out the cheesy background music during the intros. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed my purchase.