Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
BookSurge Classics (2004), Paperback, 36 pages
Description
Dive into this classic from the singular mind of Edgar Allan Poe, who is widely regarded as the master of short horror fiction. The Fall of the House of Usher recounts the terrible events that befall the last remaining members of the once-illustrious Usher clan before it is "quite literally" rent asunder. With amazing economy, Poe plunges the reader into a state of deliciously agonizing suspense. It's a must-read for fans of the golden era of horror writing.
User reviews
LibraryThing member herebedragons
Dark and creepy; a great short story.
LibraryThing member wnk1029
This horror/suspense short story had a lot of buildup and mood-setting descriptions, but was a much shorter tale than I had anticipated or remembered. I think I used the dictionary function on my Nook more times in this story than I have in the last ten books I've read combined. This one didn't
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live up to my expectations for Poe, the master of suspense. Show Less
LibraryThing member CayenneEllis
I really enjoyed this little short story (novelette? It seems to rich and full to be called a short story). I think this is a story that could really benefit from re-reads (and re-re-reads and re-re-re-reads). The story grabs you from the opening description of the house of Usher, especially with
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it's subtle personification, specifically the several references to eyes and the eerie sense of doom. I am not enough of a scholar to be able to say what exactly created the feeling of unease, but as Usher and the narrator's paranoia rose, so did mine! I would recommend this quick, gripping read to anyone. Show Less
LibraryThing member steadfastreader
A classic gothic Poe novella. Good. Worth the read.
LibraryThing member marsap
"The Fall of the House of Usher" recounts the terrible events that befall the last remaining members of the once-illustrious Usher clan—narrated by the boyhood friend of Roderick Usher. It is a gothic horror story and a great example of how an author such as Poe gets straight to the point. It is
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a quick read—but the fear and the horror grow with sentence. A 4 out of 5 stars. Show Less
LibraryThing member Dreesie
Read for coursera Fantasy and Science Fiction course. Good, lots of color--especially in varieties of gray/black--mentioned. Good mood setting. The story itself? Meh.
LibraryThing member AltheaAnn
Of course; I'd read this before (somewhere or other, I have an old set of the complete works of Poe, which I bought at the estate sale of a recently-deceased woman - I felt it was appropriate, somehow.) However, it's been a long time. A re-read was welcome, since I'd recently read "Madeline's
Still, for language and vivid imagery, the original Poe cannot be surpassed. Just the opening paragraphs bring the titular house to chilling 'life' as no other description of a cursed abode may even have done. A classic for a reason.
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Version" by F. Brett Cox, which gives another viewpoint on this tale. Still, for language and vivid imagery, the original Poe cannot be surpassed. Just the opening paragraphs bring the titular house to chilling 'life' as no other description of a cursed abode may even have done. A classic for a reason.
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LibraryThing member thornton37814
A gothic tale by Poe as the narrator visits an old friend. Things don't quite seem right, and the story quickly turns into a tale of horror. I'm pretty sure I read this at some point in the past, but it was a nice change of pace.
LibraryThing member electrascaife
Meh. S'okay, but I think in general that Poe is just not my thing. His language is too fussy, or something, and his stories are just shy of being the good kind of weird.
LibraryThing member LGandT
Always a creepy little delight. Has everything you could want in a classic horror/ghost story.
LibraryThing member jonfaith
Not to dote along a cliche, but it was simply thrilling detour: a bit purple perhaps, but enjoyable.
LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
Edgar Allan Poe is considered to be one of the masters of short horror fiction and The Fall of the House of Usher, originally published in 1839, is a classic example of his skill. In about 40 pages this story touches on many Gothic elements such as a haunted house, a mysterious illness, a cursed
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family along with death and entombment. The author creates an atmospheric and creepy story that builds to its macabre finish as the narrator reveals the sinister and grotesque details that bring about the end of the Usher family. Show Less
LibraryThing member PhilSyphe
I had high expectations for this story because of its reputation as a classic. Ultimately, I was disappointed. No real conflict happens until the end, and that’s tarnished with melodrama.
For the most part, nothing happens to move the story along. Rather, it’s dragged down with asides like a
I couldn’t stomach the writing style, either. Clunky sentences run on and on. Passive paragraphs are huge with little dialogue to change the pace. Of what dialogue there is, much of it appears as another condensed paragraph made up of long-winded sentences. No snappy dialogue exchanges here.
The author generally opts for reported speech instead of dialogue, making the prose even less active. We have lots of “telling” with little “showing”. Because of this style, I experience none of the suspense that the reviewers who rave about this story feel. The passive prose robs the story of drama.
For the most part, nothing happens to move the story along. Rather, it’s dragged down with asides like a
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poem recital and excess detail. I couldn’t stomach the writing style, either. Clunky sentences run on and on. Passive paragraphs are huge with little dialogue to change the pace. Of what dialogue there is, much of it appears as another condensed paragraph made up of long-winded sentences. No snappy dialogue exchanges here.
The author generally opts for reported speech instead of dialogue, making the prose even less active. We have lots of “telling” with little “showing”. Because of this style, I experience none of the suspense that the reviewers who rave about this story feel. The passive prose robs the story of drama.
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LibraryThing member Pharmacdon
It is interesting that the narrator of the story is a sane intelligent man whereas his friend is intelligent also, but is suffering from mental strain. Both are sophisticated and are reading exotic books to help the sick man to not focus on his mental state.
“His chief delight, however, was found
The intelligence is needed to make the storyline more believable. Give it a read because of Poe's descriptions set the mood for the story.
“His chief delight, however, was found
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in the perusal of an exceedingly rare and curious book in quarto Gothic—the manual of a forgotten church—the Vigiliæ Mortuorum Secundum Chorum Ecclesiæ Maguntinæ."The intelligence is needed to make the storyline more believable. Give it a read because of Poe's descriptions set the mood for the story.
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LibraryThing member la2bkk
Poe's penchant for florid narrative and the fact that his works were written almost two centuries ago simply don't work for me. I find his style difficult and sometimes tedious.
However, the actual storyline is compelling and for that he deserves credit.
Worthwhile, but overrated.
However, the actual storyline is compelling and for that he deserves credit.
Worthwhile, but overrated.
Original publication date
1839
Physical description
36 p.; 7.72 inches
ISBN
1594561796 / 9781594561795