On-Demand Video: Virtual Read-Aloud with Emily

Edgar Allan Poe (1809 – 1849) was an American poet and author whose works influenced a broad scope of literary genres, including detective fiction, science fiction, horror, and Romanticism. Arguably the first American author to support his lifestyle through writing alone, Poe’s literary career—and personal life—is steeped in tragedy and mystery, themes which frequently characterize his written works. Although many of his more violent short stories feature supernatural elements, violence in “The Cask of Amontillado” is prompted by forces all too human: the desire for vengeance.

Want to read along? Click here to read the story on Project Gutenberg.