Today, Sara and Chelsey discuss “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe. This delightfully creepy story ushers in (that pun was NOT intended, but let’s go with it) chilling fall breezes, spooky October vibes, and atmosphere galore. We walk through a close reading of this classic horror story and cover Poe’s signature writing style and the horror tropes he plays with here, leaving a legacy for modern authors and even filmmakers in the horror genre. As always in Short Story Club, we offer four contemporary pairings to add to your gothic reading pile this fall. 

For more bonus episodes, nerdy classes, and extra book talk,  join our Classics Club: patreon.com/novelpairings.com.

Connect with us  on Instagram or Twitter. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get updates and behind-the-scenes info.

Get two audiobooks for the price of one from Libro.fm. Use our Libro.fm affiliate code NOVELPAIRINGS and support independent bookstores.

Skip to the pairings: [43:50]

.

.

.

Books mentioned:

Thank you for supporting the show by shopping our affiliate links! 

“The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe

Poe’s stories on audio

A collection of Poe’s short stories

Chelsey:

• His Hideous Heart by Dahlia Adler (Amazon)
• The Whispering House by Elizabeth Brooks (Amazon)

Sara:

• The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (Amazon)
• The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry (Amazon)

Both (Bonus):

• Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Amazon)

Picks of the week:

Chelsey - For students: The Poe Museum  & Common Lit For teachers: Drunk History, Edgar Allan Poe feuds with Rufus Griswold

Sara - The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez and The Fall by Bethan Griffin