The Fall of the House of Usher
Written by Edgar Allan Poe
Narrated by Jaclyn Fisher
()
About this audiobook
An unnamed narrator approaches the house of Usher on a “dull, dark, and soundless day.” This house—the estate of his boyhood friend, Roderick Usher—is gloomy and mysterious. The narrator observes that the house seems to have absorbed an evil and diseased atmosphere from the decaying trees and murky ponds around it. He notes that although the house is decaying in places—individual stones are disintegrating, for example—the structure itself is fairly solid. There is only a small crack from the roof to the ground in the front of the building. He has come to the house because his friend Roderick sent him a letter earnestly requesting his company. Roderick wrote that he was feeling physically and emotionally ill, so the narrator is rushing to his assistance. The narrator mentions that the Usher family, though an ancient clan, has never flourished. Only one member of the Usher family has survived from generation to generation, thereby forming a direct line of descent without any outside branches. The Usher family has become so identified with its estate that the peasantry confuses the inhabitants with their home.
The narrator decides to read to Roderick in order to pass the night away. He reads “Mad Trist” by Sir Launcelot Canning, a medieval romance. As he reads, he hears noises that correspond to the descriptions in the story. At first, he ignores these sounds as the vagaries of his imagination. Soon, however, they become more distinct and he can no longer ignore them. He also notices that Roderick has slumped over in his chair and is muttering to himself. The narrator approaches Roderick and listens to what he is saying. Roderick reveals that he has been hearing these sounds for days, and believes that they have buried Madeline alive and that she is trying to escape.
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American writer, poet, and critic. Best known for his macabre prose work, including the short story “The Tell-Tale Heart,” his writing has influenced literature in the United States and around the world.
More audiobooks from Edgar Allan Poe
The Predictably Irrational Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dollars and Sense: How We Misthink Money and How to Spend Smarter Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Upside of Irrationality: The Unexpected Benefits of Defying Logic at Work and at Home Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Irrationally Yours: On Missing Socks, Pickup Lines, and Other Existential Puzzles Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Misbelief: What Makes Rational People Believe Irrational Things Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Edgar Allan Poe Audio Collection Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related to The Fall of the House of Usher
Related audiobooks
The Gardener of Eden: A Novel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWaiting Out Winter Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Faculty Club: A Thriller Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Man in the Pines Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Horror Stories from Denmark Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChindi Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Ghost-Eater Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Horned Ones: Cornucopia Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChristmas and Other Horrors: An Anthology of Solstice Horror Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDrive Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Horror Show Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Pulp Horror Book of Phobias Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Wendigo Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Little Monsters Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHalf Dead Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDust Bowl Children Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGollitok Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSuckerville Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Murder of Scarecrows Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Truth About Goblins Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDark Horrors Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTwenty Three: A Mystery Thriller Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHawkes Harbor Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Turn of the Screw Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEat the Dark Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Shadows Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsParanormal Recording Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCry of Crows Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Fall of the House of Usher Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Horror Fiction For You
Watchers Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Hidden Pictures: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/511/22/63: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Lamb Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Last House on Needless Street Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Frankenstein Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Reformatory: A Novel Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dead Until Dark Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Misery Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Under The Dome: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Firestarter Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Green Mile Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5One by One Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5FantasticLand: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pet Sematary Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Outsider: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Good Marriage Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Coraline Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Intensity: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Different Seasons Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Holly Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Needful Things Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Mr. Mercedes: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ghost Story Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Institute: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Troop Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Head Full of Ghosts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Later Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Black House Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for The Fall of the House of Usher
0 ratings0 reviews