The Gold-Bug and Other Tales

By Dan Ariely

Recognized today as the undisputed master of the American Gothic horror story, Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849) revealed his genius in tales of death, terror, evil, and perversity. Highly skilled in achieving a calculated psychological effect, Poe created chilling fictional nightmares permeated by mysterious forces, grotesque creatures, and improbable hallucinations.
Poe's immense powers as a storyteller are at their peak in this anthology containing nine of his best-known short stories. Among them are "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," a gripping 19th-century detective story that provided a model for future mystery writers; "The Fall of the House of Usher" and "The Masque of the Red Death," pervaded with eerie thoughts, impulses, and fears; "The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Cask of Amontillado," masterpieces of wickedness and crime; "The Pit and the Pendulum," with its agonizing specter of imminent and horrifying death; and "The Gold-Bug," a fascinating detective story that combines romance and adventure in an absorbing tale of buried treasure.
Mystery lovers and horror story enthusiasts will find this inexpensive collection, by one of the great masters of the form, an exciting addition to their personal libraries.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Release date: Mar 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9780486111032

Dan Ariely

Dan Ariely is the James B. Duke Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University. He is a founding member of the Center for Advanced Hindsight; a cocreator of the film documentary (Dis)Honesty: The Truth About Lies; and a three-time New York Times bestselling author. His books include Predictably Irrational, The Upside of Irrationality, The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty, Irrationally Yours, Payoff, Dollars and Sense, and Amazing Decisions. His TED Talks have been viewed more than 27 million times. His work has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, and elsewhere. He lives in North Carolina with his family.