POE: Stories and Poems

Gareth Hinds

Jan 2017 · Gareth Hinds

About this ebook

 It is true that I am nervous. But why will you say that I am mad?In stories and poems written well over a century ago, Edgar Allan Poe established himself as the original American master of gothic horror. Now, acclaimed artist-adapter Gareth Hinds translates Poe’s dark genius into the graphic novel format for Poe fans new and old.

Blood, bones, and flickering firelight set the mood for Hinds’s vision of Poe’s macabre and tragic worlds. In “The Cask of Amontillado,” a man takes a terrifying revenge on a friend who has insulted him. In “The Masque of the Red Death,” a prince hosts a party in his abbey stronghold while plague spreads outside. A prisoner finds himself in the sadistic clutches of the Spanish Inquisition in “The Pit and the Pendulum,” and in “The Tell- Tale Heart,” a single milky eye incites madness and murder.

Alongside the tales are visual interpretations of three iconic poems - “The Raven,” “The Bells,” and Poe’s poignant elegy to lost love, “Annabel Lee.” Taken together, these seven concise graphic narratives both amplify and honor a timeless legacy.

Ratings and reviews

High-quality graphic novelizations are having a tremendous impact on teaching and learning. As a student, I wouldn’t buy into lessons if I didn’t see their relevance and classic texts usually presented a problem. Gareth Hinds has built his catalogue adapting classic texts visually. Once again, Poe shows that in the hands of a storyteller passionate about his craft, creating visual appeal does not sacrifice the fidelity of language. This collection is not a retelling. Poe’s words appear complete and unabridged. Hinds latest work approaches each of Poe’s short stories with a different artistic style showcasing each story’s unique mood. The collective result sets this collection apart from any other graphic adaptation I’ve encountered. As an adult, I thoroughly enjoyed rediscovering favorites like The Raven and Tell Tale Heart in new dimensions. I found myself savoring Poe’s lesser known works that I wouldn’t have been inclined to pick up. The art is so remarkable that I spent more time with the words than I otherwise may have spent with the text alone. As teachers, we know that using multi-sensory strategies is a more effective approach to helping students integrate and retain knowledge. Gareth Hinds’ reverence for the masters once again shows that in the hands of an expert, visuals are not a distraction from the text, rather, they amplify the message.

About the author

Gareth Hinds is the creator of critically-acclaimed graphic novels based on literary classics, including Beowulf (which Publisher’s Weekly called a “mixed-media gem”), King Lear (which Booklist named one of the top 10 graphic novels for teens), The Merchant of Venice (which Kirkus called “the standard that all others will strive to meet” for Shakespeare adaptation), and The Odyssey (which received four starred reviews and has been placed on numerous "best of 2010" lists). Gareth is a recipient of the Boston Public Library’s “Literary Lights for Children” award. His books can be found in bookstores and English classrooms across the country, and his illustrations have appeared in such diverse venues as the Society of Illustrators, the New York Historical Society, and over a dozen published video games.