The Oval Portrait, Edgar Allan Poe
The Oval Portrait, Edgar Allan Poe
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The Oval Portrait

Author: Edgar Allan Poe

Narrator: Marcus Aurelius Green

Unabridged: 10 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/04/2024

Synopsis

In this eerie and atmospheric tale, Edgar Allan Poe masterfully blends the macabre with an exploration of art and obsession. The Oval Portrait tells the story of a wounded man who seeks shelter in a mysterious, abandoned chateau. As he rests in a dimly lit room, his attention is drawn to a captivating painting of a young woman, portrayed with an uncanny lifelike quality. As he delves into the story behind the portrait, he uncovers a chilling tale of a talented artist whose obsession with capturing perfection on canvas leads to a tragic and horrifying outcome.Poe’s tale weaves together themes of beauty, sacrifice, and the fine line between art and life, leaving readers and listeners haunted by the dark consequences of an artist’s all-consuming passion. The Oval Portrait is a quintessential example of Poe's ability to create an unsettling, Gothic atmosphere in just a few pages, making it a timeless piece that resonates with lovers of both horror and art.

About Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American poet, short story writer, editor, and literary critic who is credited with inventing the detective fiction genre and with contributing to the emerging science fiction genre. He began his literary career with the anonymous publication of a collection of his poems entitled Tamerlane and Other Poems. He then turned to writing prose and spent the next several years working for literary journals and periodicals, becoming well known for his particular style of literary criticism. He served for a time on the staff of the New York Mirror, in which his poem "The Raven" was published. Poe's other well-known works include his stories "The Purloined Letter," "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," and "The Mystery of Marie Roget."

Reviews

Goodreads review by Glenn on June 30, 2023

Since there are dozens of reviews already posted here, in the spirit of freshness I will focus on how Edgar Allan Poe uses this tale to convey the power of art and aesthetic experience for both artist and viewer. Below are my observations along with several of the author’s quotes. The narrator enters......more

Goodreads review by Sandra on June 11, 2019

A man seeks shelter for the night in an abandoned chateau. While he is in bed he notices a painting on the wall of a girl. He is captivated by it, and reads about it in a book, which tells the sad tale of the painting. This was a short, gripping, and fascinating read. Another interesting story by Poe......more

Goodreads review by Kevin on March 05, 2020

Injured, and fearful of spending a cold night outdoors, an unnamed man of means (our narrator) seeks shelter in an abandoned chateau where a turret room, dark and steeped in faded grandeur, presents itself. Our narrator has his valet light a candelabrum and throw open the fringed curtains surroundin......more

Goodreads review by Francesc on February 18, 2022

Intenso relato sobre la fugacidad de la vida. Con muy poco, Poe dice mucho. An intense story of the transience of life. With very little, Poe says a lot.......more

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