Name: The Black Cat
Rating: 3.816532258064516 (124 reviews)
ISBN: 9781723019081

Edgar Allen Poe

It is a study of the psychology of guilt, often paired in analysis with Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart." In both, a murderer carefully conceals his crime and believes himself unassailable, but eventually breaks down and reveals himself, impelled by a nagging reminder of his guilt. Poe's work is always an intriging step into the dark side of human nature. Recommended by The Gunston Trust. Ages: Young Adults and Adults.

The Black Cat

Edgar Allan Poe

dimitra

Romy

Demon

I think it's an interesting short story, playing on the horror but saying it's only some "mere" events, as if it can happen to everyone. It also plays on the supernatural side of the horror, which was well-used.

Sage

yeah i hated this book. i listened to the narration by NELSON OLMSTED and it made me shiver and jump on the train! in public! read it. you'll hate yourself. and the main character. but it's ok, we all need to be shaken up a little sometimes.

Trish

I've come to accept that horror and true crime are not my preferred genres and any novel that includes graphic murder scenes just isn't my cup of tea. 

This story features an unpredictable drunk who slaughters pets and spouses alike. Hard for me to be anything but appalled. I guess the two stars is to show my appreciation for Poe's violent imagination. Other than that, nothing I'd want to read again... unfortunately there's three more Poe short stories on my American Narratives course syllabus. They just had to focus on the American goth era this summer *palm hits forehead*.

Sophie Dowse 

This story genuinely left me with my mouth wide open. I'm still trying to mentally process what I've just read, but in summary it was a masterpiece. The complete confusion and guilt that the characters face, along with the horrifying violence shown is simply jaw dropping, and I'm sure this story will stay on my mind for many days to come.

Meriem💫

Diana Platgalve

Madness, darkness, alcohol infused rage, and death. All combined in Poe's "The Black cat."
It's actually pretty accurate, how Poe was able to describe the rage, that wakes up in people after the rejection, experiencing it way more deeply when intoxicated. You do bad because it is bad, your cognitive abilities are so weakened that it is hard to control the rage; but when intoxication fades, you know that crime committed while being slave to it...was wrong.

Diptyalina Barman

Did anyone know that a synonym for VOMIT/BARF is CAT ?! 
but POE is mad GENIUS!

Edgar Poe

Edgar Allan Poe, the father of American horror fiction, first published his macabre short story "The Black Cat" in the August 19, 1843 edition of The Saturday Evening Post. The frightening tale of a murderer tormented by guilt over his terrible deeds is a classic. The narrator's admission that much of his bad behavior and deranged thinking is the result of demon alcohol is possibly autobiographical, as Poe himself struggled with alcoholism throughout his life. This short work is part of Applewood's "American Roots," series, tactile mementos of American passions by some of America's most famous writers and thinkers.

Ilse

This book is good in the sense that it very effectively managed to disturb me and as a deep lover of cats (and animals in general) I hated reading the animal cruelty bits, which was almost the entire thing. The entire story escalates so quickly that I just cannot follow the logic as to how it does so (and rather not delve deeper into it to discover). Definitely hammered hom that I’m not one for disturbing horror stories and as such I’m going to stay well clear of Poe in the future

Carla Aquino

Short and sweet!! I did keep thinking if Poe ever thought to murder his sickly wife while writing this though, which is kind of creepy.

"The Black Cat" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in the August 19, 1843, edition of The Saturday Evening Post. Through this short story, we explore the psychology of guilt. A murderer meticulously conceals his crime and believes himself indestructible, but eventually breaks down and reveals himself, due to the guilt he feels.

The Black Cat

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