The Raven and Selected Short Stories

By: Edgar Allan Poe

Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki, Bronson Pinchot

The title work in this collection of ten short stories and poems is widely regarded as the most famous of Edgar Allan Poe’s writings. This unsettling tale in verse tells of a man’s slow descent into madness as he mourns the loss of his lover. The mysterious visit of a talking raven that utters only one word sparks the man’s steady decline.

Now the inspiration for a major motion picture starring John Cusack, these tales of mystery and terror are here brought vividly to life by Blackstone Audio. Poe, the inventor of the modern detective story, was an expert at weaving suspense and horror into tales that thrill and chill. Included in this collection are “The Raven,” “The Pit and the Pendulum,” “The TellTale Heart,” “The Fall of the House of Usher,” “The Masque of the Red Death,” “The Cask of Amontillado,” “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” “The Black Cat,” “The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar,” and “HopFrog.”

Edgar Allan Poe transformed the American literary landscape with his innovations in the shortstory genre and his haunting lyrical poetry, and he is credited with inventing American gothic horror and detective fiction. Orphaned at three years old, he was first published in 1827 and then began a career as a magazine writer and editor and a sharp literary critic. In 1845 the publication of his most famous poem, “The Raven,” brought him national fame.

Public Domain (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Poe constantly and inevitably produced magic where his greatest contemporaries produced only beauty.” (George Bernard Shaw)

“Certain of Poe’s tales possess an almost absolute perfection of artistic form which makes them veritable beacon lights in the province of the short story…Poe’s weird tales are alive in a manner that few others can ever hope to be.” (H. P. Lovecraft)

POE WAS A MASTER STORY TELLER

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes, and i already have recommended this to several friends, as well as sparked and interest to see the movie...which was awesome.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Raven and Selected Short Stories?

loved it all as i had studied Poe's works in high school. thirty years later i am still enjoying it.

Which scene was your favorite?

the tapping raven and the lovely lenore.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

as mentioned above an enjoyable listen as it sparked memories for me of my high school years.

I don't care about the rest but I love the Raven X

I have yet to listen to the rest of the stories in this novel but I love Edgar Allan Poe. The Raven is one of the most loved stories of his at least by me listen to it time and time again and it creeps me out time and time again I hope you enjoy it as much as I.

Sedate Rendition of Growing Madness

Having just completed my listening excursion into Poe with Christopher Aruffo’s masterful thirteen volume Edgar Allan Poe Audiobook Collection, I longed to hear another interpretation. And, being a fan of the narration of Bronson Pinchot, I was anxious to discover his interpretation of the fantastic tales of Mr. Poe. What I discovered is a competent, if uninspired rendition of these tales of terror and insanity. I realize that the slow descent into insanity, typical of Poe’s tales, is appropriately related in a calm and sane voice, at first, then becoming increasingly anxious as the character’s underlying lunacy is progressively revealed. Pinchot and Rudniki do this expertly. What I was looking for, however, was an over-the-top melodramatic performance; that I did not find. True, there are brief moments of hysteria in the narration such as Pinchot screaming in Rodderick Usher’s voice, “Madman, I tell you that she now stands without the door!” This brief example dramatic acting-out was what I hoping for. Alas, it is only extant in a few places in this collection. This is a fine production of these classic Poe stories. The sound quality is clean and resonant. Both of the narrators are a pleasure to listen to. So, if you want a faithful respectable reading of Edgar Allan Poe, you will not be disappointed. My search for a crazed maniacal unhinged frenetic portrayal of derangement continues. I think Poe deserves at least one such performance, don’t you?

Some of Edgar Allen Poe's work

What did you love best about The Raven and Selected Short Stories?

There are some truly grand stories, in this volume, that Poe had written.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Raven and Selected Short Stories?

Each story has its own twists and turns. To make story, unique ! I liked them all !

Which character – as performed by Stefan Rudnicki and Bronson Pinchot – was your favorite?

They each were excellent. Portraying the characters they did voices to.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The Shades of Edgar Allen Poe !