The Portable Poe compiles Poe's greatest writings: tales of fantasy terror death revenge murder and mystery including "The Pit and the Pendulum" "The Fall of the House of Usher" "The Cask of Amontillado" and "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" the world's first detective story. In addition this volume offers letters articles criticism visionary poetry and a selection of random "opinions" on fancy and the imagination music and poetry intuition and sundry other topics.