Tales of Mystery and Imagination (Calla Editions) [Hardcover]

Edgar Allan Poe (Author), Harry Clarke (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 2008 | Series: Calla Editions

This gorgeous anthology features 29 of Edgar Allan Poe's tales of the fantastic and the macabre. It combines some of his most popular stories — including "The Fall of the House of Usher" and "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" — with lesser-known gems. Illustrated with 8 full-color plates and 24 full-page drawings filled with brooding eroticism by Harry Clarke, a brilliant Edwardian-era artist too long overshadowed by his contemporary Aubrey Beardsley.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Calla Editions (September 25, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1606600044
• ISBN-13: 978-1606600047
• Product Dimensions: 2 x 2 x 10.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #372,320 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Tales of Mystery and Imagination - E A Poe, Calla Edition December 16, 2008

By Charles Stembridge

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have been keeping an eye out for this book since I first saw it in my High School Library in the early '60s. What was memorable were the surreal illustrations, and were the best effort I had ever seen in capturing the mood of Poe's stories. This book is a very fine production. It is a black cloth hardback, and the pages are oversized and heavy bond paper slightly yellow off-white color. Most of the illustrations are black and white pen & ink, with a few in color. All of the illustrations are single page, that is the other side of the page is blank; a mark of high quality. This is the definate 'Must Have' edition for anyone interested in Poe's works. I would also rate this book as a 'Best Buy', given the price to quality ratio.

Bibliographical Note (Quote)
'Tales of Mystery and Imagination', first published by Calla Editions in 2008, is an unabridged republication of the edition originally published by Tudor Publishing Co., New York, in 1933.

From the Publisher (Quote)
The works of Edgar Allan Poe, in the rarefied company of Thoreau, Hawthorne, Twain, and Melville, represent the full flowering of American literature in the nineteenth century. By itself, this edition would be an outstanding collection of 29 tales of mystery, suspense, and the macabre; but what sets this volume apart are the magnificent illustrations of Harry Clarke. Many artists have attempted to illustrate Poe, though it is no easy feat to match graphically the powerful effect of Poe's words on the reader. Harry Clarke's ambitious attempt is widely regarded as a resounding triumph. While his color-plate work here is excellent, it is Clarke's fine-line full-page Pen & ink drawings that superbly bring to life the intense phychological dramas so central to Poe's storytelling. These richly atmospheric and densely textured creations make this the definitive illustrated edition of an undisputed giant of the American literary canon.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply exquisite, a must-have for Poe fans and collectors December 1, 2009

By Z Hayes HALL OF FAMETOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Poe is one of my favorite authors of the macabre, and I have various editions of his works, especially the "collected" works editions. This particular edition by Calla is quite a treasure, containing 29 of Poe's tales. The quality of the book is impressive, especially at the reasonable price offered here (even at retail it would still be a bargain in my opinion). The book is in hardcover with black cloth binding, and the quality of paper is of fine, and heavy stock. Some of the illustrations are in color, but most are pen and ink drawings in B&W. The stories contained within this book are complete and unabridged. The main highlight of this book are the intricate illustrations by Harry Clarke which vividly capture the emotions and Gothic horror of Poe's stories, an extraordinary feat indeed. This is a handsome edition of Poe's stories, and makes a perfect gift for Poe fans and avid collectors. I for one look forward to hours of pleasure spent browsing through the magnificent illustrations and re-reading these wonderful, insightful stories of mystery and the macabre.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you'd hope it is October 4, 2009

By Mr Toad

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Truly beautiful on every level. I am a book collector and illustrator. I love books. This edition was everything I'd hoped it would be. The art is inspiring.