Horror | Lecturia

Edgar Allan Poe: Morella

“Morella” is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, published in April 1835 in the Southern Literary Messenger. A man marries Morella, a woman of great erudition and a marked inclination toward metaphysics and mystical knowledge. Although he initially feels deeply attached to her, over time he experiences a growing detachment and an inexplicable aversion toward his wife, a feeling that intensifies as she languishes and her presence becomes increasingly disturbing.

Edgar Allan Poe: The Pit and the Pendulum

“The Pit and the Pendulum,” a short story by Edgar Allan Poe published in 1842, is a chilling tale that follows the anguish of a prisoner during the Spanish Inquisition. After being sentenced, the protagonist awakens in a dark and sinister cell, unaware of the fate that awaits him. In this claustrophobic place, he discovers that the punishment he has been assigned was conceived by a twisted and sadistic mind. Faced with various mechanisms of torture, the prisoner is subjected to extreme physical and psychological torment, where terror and despair become his only companions as he struggles to survive in this earthly hell.

Robert W. Chambers: The Yellow Sign

“The Yellow Sign” is a short story by Robert W. Chambers, published in 1895 as part of the collection The King in Yellow. While painting a portrait, an artist is disturbed by the presence of a mysterious man in the courtyard of the neighboring church. The man’s face—pale, swollen, and repulsive—makes a strong impression on him, which seems to contaminate even his work. Meanwhile, his model, Tessie, tells him about a recurring dream in which a mysterious coachman transports a coffin in a gloomy hearse. The girl is deeply shocked when she discovers that the man from the church is the same man who appears in her dreams.

Ambrose Bierce: The Eyes of the Panther

“The Eyes of the Panther” is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, published on October 17, 1897, in the San Francisco Examiner. Jenner Brading and Irene Marlowe are in love, but she stubbornly refuses to marry him. Pressed by Jenner to explain the reason for her refusal, Irene recounts a strange and macabre episode from her family’s past that took place in an isolated cabin in the woods—an experience that left a deep mark on her life and seems to bar her from any marital commitment.

Bram Stoker: Gibbet Hill

“Gibbet Hill” is a short story by Bram Stoker, published on December 17, 1890, in the Daily Express of Dublin. On an autumn day, a traveler explores the hills of Surrey. As he admires the beauty of the place, three figures catch his attention: two girls of exotic appearance, who seem to have come from India, and a fair-haired boy with an angelic smile. After speaking with them, they climb together to the summit of Gibbet Hill, a place of breathtaking views where a cross stands in memory of the execution of a former criminal. Intoxicated by the landscape, the traveler wanders into a wood and falls into a brief sleep. Upon waking, he will witness a disturbing scene.

Edgar Allan Poe: The Man of the Crowd

“The Man of the Crowd” is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, published in December 1840 in Burton’s Gentleman’s Magazine and Atkinson’s Casket. A man observes from the window of a London café the ceaseless flow of people along a bustling avenue. For hours he watches and classifies the passersby according to their appearance and behavior: merchants, clerks, gamblers, beggars, prostitutes. As night falls, his attention is captured by an old man with an extraordinarily enigmatic expression. Driven by an irresistible curiosity, he leaves the café to follow the mysterious figure through the nocturnal streets of London.