This book contains Edgar Allen Poe's 1842 short story, "The Pit and the Pendulum". An unnamed narrator is brought before a panel of ominous judges during the Spanish Inquisition. His subsequent torture is presented in in minute, gory detail. A chilling and engrossing tale by the master of the macabre, "The Pit and Pendulum" is a veritable must-read. Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American author, editor, poet, and critic. Most famous for his stories of mystery and horror, he was one of the first American short story writers, and is widely considered to be the inventor of the detective fiction genre. Many antiquarian books such as this are becoming increasingly rare and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new biography of the author.