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The Pit and the Pendulum

Edgar Allan Poe

First published January 1850
Type Short Fiction
Length Short Story

Synopsis

A prisoner of the Inquisition is subjected to slowly encroaching death, first in the form of a pendulum which he manages to escape, and then in the form of a pit.

Notes

  • Genre, both because this supposedly historical story has the effect of a strange nightmare, and because it is included in fantastic literature by long tradition.
  • First published in The Gift for 1843 in the fall of 1842, with the month thought to be October due to a subsequent reprint in the October 22, 1842 New York Spectator.
  • See the notes here and this OCR scan.

External Links

Publications (274)

Date Publication Publisher Type Page
January 1850 The Works of the Late Edgar Allan Poe J. S. Redfield Collection 310
1853 The Works of the Late Edgar Allan Poe J. S. Redfield Collection 310
1855 Tales of Mystery and Imagination and Poems Clarke, Beeton & Co. Collection |15
1856 The Works of the Late Edgar Allan Poe J. S. Redfield Collection 310
1856 Tales of Mystery, Imagination and Humour: Second Series Clarke, Beeton & Co. Collection |7
1878 Tales of Mystery, Imagination and Humour Ward, Lock Collection
1882 Tales of Mystery and Imagination George Routledge & Sons Collection
1886 Selections from Edgar Allan Poe: Prose and Poetry Cassell & Company Collection |12
1886 Tales of Mystery and Imagination George Routledge & Sons Collection
1888 Weird Tales: American William Paterson Anthology 5
1888 Weird Tit-Bits: American White and Allen Anthology 5
1895 Weird Tales Henry Altemus Company Collection 94
1899 The Raven: The Pit and the Pendulum Leonard Smithers Collection
1901 Selections from the Prose Tales of Edgar Allan Poe The Macmillan Company Collection 117
October 1901 Tales The Century Co. Collection 472
1902 Tales of Edgar Allan Poe G. P. Putnam's Sons Collection |4
1902 The Gold-Bug and Other Tales A. L. Burt Company Collection 231
1902 Tales of Mystery and Imagination Grant Richards Collection 220
1903 Prose Tales of Mystery and Imagination Grosset & Dunlap Collection |2
1903 Cover The Works of Edgar Allan Poe: Volume 2 (Raven Edition) P. F. Collier & Son Collection 234
October 1903 The Best Tales of Edgar Allan Poe A. C. McClurg & Co. Collection 383
1904 Edgar Allan Poe's Tales: A Selection Cassell & Company Collection
1905 Cover The Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe, Volume 4 Croscup & Holby Collection
1906 The Tales of Edgar Allan Poe: The Gold Beetle, The Maelström, The Pit and the Pendulum Langham Booklets Collection
1908 Tales of Mystery and Imagination J. M. Dent & Sons Collection
1909 Selected Tales of Mystery J. B. Lippincott Collection |10
1909 Tales Duffield & Co. Collection |3
1909 Selected Tales of Mystery Sidgwick & Jackson Collection 175
1910 Tales of Mystery and Imagination Thomas Nelson & Sons Collection
1915 Fantastic Tales Tauchnitz Collection
1918 Poems and Tales D. C. Heath & Co. Collection 94
1919 Cover Tales of Mystery and Imagination George G. Harrap & Co. Collection |20
1919 The Gold-Bug and Other Tales The Four Seas Co. Collection
1922 Select Tales International Bibliothek Collection 198
1922 Tales The Roycrofters Collection
October 1923 Cover Weird Tales, October 1923 The Rural Publishing Corp. MAGAZINE 71
1925 Tales of Terror Small, Maynard & Co. Anthology 130
1925 Uncanny Tales Haldeman-Julius Collection
1927 Tales of Edgar Allan Poe Charles Scribner's Sons Collection |11
1927 The Works of Edgar Allan Poe in One Volume: Poems, Tales, Essays, Criticisms with New Notes Walter J. Black, Inc. Collection 170
1928 Cover Tales of Mystery and Imagination Oxford University Press Collection 220
1930 The Gold-Bug and Other Tales and Poems The Macmillan Company Collection 172
1931 The Best Known Works of Edgar Allan Poe in One Volume: Poems, Tales, Essays, Criticisms Blue Ribbon Books Collection 171
1932 Cover The Masque of the Red Death and Other Tales Halcyon Press (1930s) Collection
1933 Cover Tales of Mystery and Imagination Tudor Publishing Company Collection 272
1934 Cover A Century of Thrillers: From Poe to Arlen Daily Express Publications Anthology 519
1934 Cover A Century of Thrillers: From Poe to Arlen Daily Express Publications Anthology 519
1935 Tales of Mystery and Imagination J. B. Lippincott Collection
1935 Cover Tales of Mystery and Imagination George G. Harrap & Co. Collection
1936 Cover The Gold Bug & Other Tales Grosset & Dunlap Collection 56
1936 Tales of Mystery and Imagination Spencer Press Collection |8
1938 Cover The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe Modern Library Collection 246
May 1938 Cover Some Tales of Mystery and Imagination Penguin Books Collection
1939 Cover The Bedside Book of Famous American Stories Random House Anthology 113
January 1940 Cover The Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe Pocket Books Collection 64
1941 Tales of Mystery & Imagination The Limited Editions Club Collection |22
1941 Tales of Mystery and Imagination Heritage Press Collection 260
August 1941 Cover The Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe Pocket Books Collection 64
November 1942 Cover Tales of Terror and Surprise Mitre Press Anthology 75
1944 Cover Selected Stories Editions for the Armed Services Collection |9
1944 Tales of Edgar Allan Poe Random House Collection |27
July 1944 Cover Some Tales of Mystery and Imagination Penguin Books Collection 84
1945 Famous Tales of Terror and the Supernatural Gulliver Books Anthology 3
1945 Cover The Best of Edgar Allan Poe Royce Publishers Collection 24
1945 The Portable Edgar Allan Poe The Viking Press Collection |11
1945 Cover Selected Stories Editions for the Armed Services Collection |9
September 1945 Weird and Imaginative Gulliver Books Anthology 5
1948 Cover Appointment with Fear Fenmore Publications Anthology 53
1948 Cover The Pit and the Pendulum and Other Stories: Tales of Mystery and Imagination Ivor Nicholson & Watson Collection 5
1948 Cover Tales of Effect: A Selection of the Best Short Stories of Edgar Allan Poe Art & Educational Publishers Collection |7
1949 Cover The Centenary Poe: Tales, Poems, Criticism, Marginalia, and Eureka John Lane, The Bodley Head Collection |9
1949 Cover Tales of Mystery Pan Books Collection 73
December 1949 Cover Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe Pocket Books Collection 64
1950 The Indispensable Edgar Allan Poe Book Society Collection |11
1950 Selected Prose and Poetry Rinehart Collection |5
1951 Cover In the Grip of Terror Permabooks Anthology 239
1951 Cover Selected Poetry and Prose of Edgar Allan Poe Modern Library Collection 231
1952 Cover Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe Cardinal / Pocket Books Collection 296
1952 Selected Short Stories Fine Editions Press Collection |19
1952 Tales Dodd, Mead & Co. Collection 277
1956 Cover Selected Tales Penguin Books (US) Collection 251
1956 Cover Selected Tales Penguin Books (US) Collection 251
1956 Cover Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe Pocket Books Collection 296
1956 Cover Selected Writings of Edgar Allan Poe Houghton Mifflin Collection 180
1956 Cover Tales of Terror Vanguard Recording Society Collection |1
1957 The Portable Edgar Allan Poe The Viking Press Collection |11
1958 Tales of Mystery & Imagination Heritage Press Collection 260
June 1959 Cover Great Tales of Action and Adventure Dell Anthology 153
1960 Cover The Gold Bug Digit Books Collection 34
1960 Cover The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales Signet Classic / New American Library Collection 132
1960 Cover Tales of Mystery and Imagination Pan Books Collection 68
1960 Cover Basil Rathbone Reads Edgar Allan Poe (Volume Two) Caedmon Collection |3
March 1960 Cover Ten Great Mysteries by Edgar Allan Poe TAB Books Collection 101
1961 Cover Spine Chillers: An Anthology of Mystery and Horror Elek Books Anthology 9
1961 Stories: Twenty-Eight Thrilling Tales Platt & Munk Collection 60
1961 Cover Stories: Twenty-Seven Thrilling Tales Platt & Munk Collection 60
1962 Cover Selected Stories and Poems Airmont Books Collection 206
1962 Ten Great Mysteries by Edgar Allan Poe Scholastic Collection 101
1962 Cover Tales of Mystery and Imagination J. M. Dent & E. P. Dutton Collection 221
1962 Cover The Pit and the Pendulum Digit Books Collection 7
1962 Cover The Pit and the Pendulum Spoken Arts Chapbook
1963 Cover Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe The Macmillan Company Collection 137
1963 Cover Tales of Edgar Allan Poe Whitman Publishing Company Collection
1963 Cover Tales of Mystery and Imagination J. M. Dent & Sons Collection 221
1964 Tales of Edgar Allan Poe Parents' Magazine's Cultural Institute Collection |14
March 1964 Cover Great Tales of Horror Bantam Books Collection 36
August 1964 Cover Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe Washington Square Press Collection 296
1965 Cover Tales of Edgar Allan Poe Whitman Publishing Company Collection 55
1965 Cover Tales of Mystery Award Books Collection 126
January 1965 Cover Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe Washington Square Press Collection 296
May 1965 Cover 18 Best Stories by Edgar Allan Poe Dell Laurel Collection 264
1966 Cover Complete Stories of Edgar Allan Poe International Collectors Library Collection 196
1966 Cover Complete Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe Doubleday Collection 196
1967 Cover The Pit and the Pendulum and Five Other Tales Franklin Watts Collection
1967 Selected Writings of Edgar Allan Poe Penguin Books Collection 261
1967 Cover Poe's Tales of Mystery and Terror Lancer Books Collection 61
1967 Cover The Pit and the Pendulum Folkways Records Chapbook
April 1967 Cover Great Tales of Action and Adventure Dell Laurel-Leaf Anthology 153
October 1967 Selected Stories and Poems Franklin Watts Collection |10
1968 Cover Tales of Mystery and Imagination Pan Books Collection 68
1968 Selections from Edgar Allan Poe Stanwix House Collection
1969 The Tell-Tale Heart and Other Stories Scholastic Book Services Collection 134
1969 Selected Tales Heron Books Collection |10
1970 Cover Great Short Works of Edgar Allan Poe Perennial Classic / Harper & Row Collection 366
August 1970 Cover Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe Washington Square Press Collection 296
September 1970 Cover Ten Great Mysteries by Edgar Allan Poe Scholastic Collection 101
1971 Cover Selected Writings of Edgar Allan Poe Penguin Books Collection 261
1971 Cover Tales of Terror Vanguard Recording Society Anthology |1
February 1971 Cover 18 Best Stories by Edgar Allan Poe Dell Laurel-Leaf Collection 264
March 1971 Cover Tales of Mystery and Imagination J. M. Dent Collection 221
June 1971 Cover Tales of Terror and Fantasy: Ten Stories from Tales of Mystery and Imagination J. M. Dent Collection 110
1972 Cover Short Stories of Edgar Allan Poe: Vol. VIII CMS Chapbook
1972 Cover Short Stories of Edgar Allan Poe: Vol. VIII CMS Chapbook
1973 Cover Tales of Terror and Fantasy: Ten Stories from Tales of Mystery and Imagination J. M. Dent Collection 110
1973 Cover Weird Tales of Edgar Allan Poe Interlyth Collection 51
1973 Cover Short Stories of Edgar Allan Poe: Vol. I Peerless Chapbook
May 1973 Cover Tales of Terror and Fantasy: Ten Stories from Tales of Mystery and Imagination J. M. Dent Collection 110
1974 Cover Great Tales of Horror and Suspense Galahad Books Anthology 51
August 1974 Cover Ghosts, Castles, and Victims: Studies in Gothic Terror Fawcett Crest Anthology 147
1975 Cover Tales of Mystery & Imagination The Easton Press Collection 260
March 1975 Cover The Tell-Tale Heart and Other Stories Scholastic Book Services Collection 134
September 1975 Cover The Complete Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe Vintage Books Collection 246
1976 Cover Ten Great Mysteries by Edgar Allan Poe Scholastic Collection 101
1976 Cover The Illustrated Edgar Allan Poe by Satty Warner Books Collection 166
1976 Cover The Pit and the Pendulum and Other Tales of Terror Andor Classic Collection 5
1976 Cover The Illustrated Edgar Allan Poe by Satty Clarkson N. Potter Collection 166
1976 Cover Tales of Mystery and Imagination Weathervane Books Collection 84
1977 Cover Edgar Allan Poe Soundbook Caedmon Collection |11
1977 Edgar Allan Poe Soundbook Caedmon Collection |11
July 1977 Cover Tales of Mystery and Imagination J. M. Dent Collection 221
November 1977 Cover Great Tales of Action and Adventure Dell Anthology 153
1978 Cover Fireside Reader Reader's Digest Anthology 413
1979 Cover Tales of Edgar Allan Poe The Franklin Library Collection 113
1979 Cover Forty-Two Tales Octopus Books Collection 622
1979 Cover Tales of Horror Listen for Pleasure Collection |3
June 1979 Cover Wolf's Complete Book of Terror Clarkson N. Potter Anthology 361
June 1979 Cover Wolf's Complete Book of Terror Clarkson N. Potter Anthology 361
1981 Cover The Dracula Book of Great Horror Stories Citadel Press Anthology 27
1981 Cover The Annotated Tales of Edgar Allan Poe Doubleday Collection
May 1981 Cover Dead of Night William Kimber Anthology 145
1982 Cover 65 Great Spine Chillers Octopus Books Anthology 508
1982 Cover 65 Great Spine Chillers Octopus Books / Marks and Spencer Anthology 508
1982 Cover Selected Writings of Edgar Allan Poe Penguin Books Collection 261
July 1982 Cover The Arbor House Celebrity Book of Horror Stories Arbor House Anthology 344
July 1982 The Arbor House Celebrity Book of Horror Stories Priam Books / Arbor House Anthology
1983 Cover 18 Best Stories by Edgar Allan Poe Dell Collection 264
1983 The Dracula Book of Great Horror Stories Citadel Press Anthology 27
1983 Cover Edgar Allan Poe Chatham River Press Collection 344
1983 Adventure Stories for Boys Octopus Books Anthology 342
1983 Cover 65 Great Spine Chillers Octopus Books Anthology 508
January 1984 Cover Dead of Night: Horror Stories from Radio, Television and Films Stein and Day Anthology
August 1984 Cover Edgar Allan Poe: Poetry and Tales The Library of America Collection 491
1985 Cover 65 Great Spine Chillers Octopus Books Anthology 508
1985 Cover Works of Edgar Allan Poe Gramercy Books Omnibus 344
1985 Cover Tales of Mystery and Imagination Chancellor Press Collection 220
1986 Cover Tales of Mystery and Imagination Octopus Books Collection
1986 Cover The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Stories Marshall Cavendish Collection 306
February 1986 Cover Dead of Night Stein and Day Anthology 145
April 1986 Cover The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Writings Penguin Books Collection 261
July 1986 Cover The Book of the Dead: Thirteen Classic Tales of the Supernatural New Orchard Anthology 327
July 1986 The Fall of the House of Usher Target / W. H. Allen Collection 30
1987 Cover Tales of Mystery and Imagination The Franklin Library Collection 113
February 1987 Cover The Fall of the House of Usher Star / W. H. Allen Collection 30
June 1989 Cover Tales of Horror & Imagination Purnell Collection 6
August 1989 Cover Dead of Night Dorset Press Anthology 145
October 1990 Cover Tales of Mystery and Terror Puffin / Penguin Books (UK) Collection 173
March 1991 Cover Complete Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe Doubleday Collection 196
August 1991 Cover The Gold-Bug and Other Tales Dover Publications Collection 62
August 1991 Cover Selected Tales Vintage Books / The Library of America Collection
September 1991 Cover Tales of Edgar Allan Poe Books of Wonder / William Morrow Collection 95
November 1991 Cover The Dracula Book of Great Horror Stories Carol Paperbacks / Carol Publishing Group Anthology 27
1992 Cover The Collected Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe Modern Library Collection 246
July 1992 Cover Edgar Allan Poe: A Collection of Stories Tor Collection 139
July 1992 Cover The Dracula Book of Classic Horror Stories Robert Hale Anthology 27
August 1993 Cover Ghostly Tales and Eerie Poems of Edgar Allan Poe Grosset & Dunlap Collection 149
1994 Great Tales of Terror Watermill Press Collection 1
1994 Tales of Mystery and Terror Puffin / Penguin Books (UK) Collection 212
1994 Cover Edgar Allan Poe: Poetry and Tales The Library of America Collection 491
April 1994 Cover Edgar Allan Poe: A Collection of Stories Tor Collection
August 1994 Cover Selected Tales Penguin Books Collection 251
1995 Cover The Pit and the Pendulum and Other Stories Penguin Books Collection 1
1995 Cover Tales of Mystery and Imagination Wordsworth Editions Collection 170
November 1995 Cover Science Fiction: The Gold Collection, Volume 1 Global Interactive Corporation Omnibus
1997 Cover Maxon's Poe: Seven Stories and Poems by Edgar Allan Poe Cottage Classics Collection |5
1998 Cover The Raven and the Monkey's Paw: Classics of Horror and Suspense from the Modern Library Modern Library Anthology 59
March 1998 Cover Murders in the Rue Morgue and Other Stories Pulp Fictions Collection 61
April 1998 Cover The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales Signet Classic / New American Library Collection 129
April 1998 Selected Tales Oxford University Press Collection 135
1999 Cover The Pit and the Pendulum and Other Stories Viking Collection 56
1999 Cover The Pit and the Pendulum and Other Stories Viking Collection 56
April 2000 The Works of Edgar Allan Poe: Volume 2 (Raven Edition) Project Gutenberg Collection
July 2000 Cover The Collected Tales of Edgar Allan Poe Harper Large Print Collection 210
2001 Cover The Library of Classic Horror Stories Courage Books Anthology
March 2003 Cover The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Writings Penguin Books Collection
September 2003 Cover The Raven and Other Writings Aladdin Collection |10
September 2003 Cover Tales of Mystery and Imagination Collector's Library Collection 270
2004 Cover The Fall Of The House Of Usher And Other Stories Planet Three Collection |3
2005 Cover Selected Works Edimat Books Collection 207
August 2005 Cover Tales of Terror Alfred A. Knopf Collection 24
August 2005 Cover Edgar Allan Poe Collection: Adventure Classics HarperFestival Collection
August 2005 Cover Tales of Terror Alfred A. Knopf Collection
2006 Cover Weird Tales, October 1923 Girasol Collectables Anthology 71
January 2007 Cover The Gold Bug Perfection Learning Collection
March 2008 Cover Tales of Mystery and Imagination Wordsworth Editions Collection 164
April 2008 Cover Selected Tales Oxford University Press Collection 135
July 2008 Cover Tales of Mystery & Imagination Chartwell Books Collection 255
September 2008 Cover Tales of Mystery and Imagination Calla Editions Collection 272
January 2009 Cover In the Shadow of the Master: Classic Tales by Edgar Allan Poe William Morrow / HarperCollins Collection 195
January 2009 Cover In the Shadow of the Master: Classic Tales by Edgar Allan Poe William Morrow / HarperCollins / SFBC Collection 195
March 2009 Cover Poe After Dark: 18 Tales of Mystery, Madness, and the Macabre Coachwhip Publications Collection 109
May 2009 Cover The Best of Edgar Allan Poe: All of His Macabre Tales Complete and Unabridged Prion Books Collection 250
September 2009 Cover Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe Vintage Books Collection 84
October 2009 Cover Tales of Mystery and Imagination Collector's Library Collection 270
October 2009 Cover Tales of Mystery & Imagination Bloomsbury Collection 199
November 2009 Cover Edgar Allan Poe: Complete Tales & Poems Castle Books Collection 237
2010 Cover The Best Horror Short Stories 1800-1849: A Classic Horror Anthology Bottletree Books Anthology
January 2010 Cover In the Shadow of the Master: Classic Tales by Edgar Allan Poe Harper Collection 195
February 2010 Cover Edgar Allan Poe: Collected Works: Stories and Poems Canterbury Classics / Thunder Bay Press Collection
May 2010 Cover The Best of Edgar Allan Poe: All of His Macabre Tales Complete and Unabridged Prion Books Collection 250
September 2010 Cover The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe Sterling Publishing Collection
January 2011 Cover Macabre Tales Dreamstairway Books Collection
February 2011 Cover Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe Vintage Books Collection |84
October 2011 Cover Tales of Horror and Suspense Dover Publications Collection
February 2012 Cover The Raven and Other Writings Aladdin Collection |10
April 2012 Cover The Murders in the Rue Morgue and Other Tales Penguin Books Collection |12
April 2012 Cover The Murders in the Rue Morgue and Other Tales Penguin Books Collection |12
July 2012 Cover 18 Best Stories by Edgar Allan Poe Dell Collection |18
2013 Cover Survive, or Die! 21 Ultimate Adventures Sam Teddy Publishing Anthology
January 2013 Cover Selected Works of Edgar Allan Poe Sleeping Cat Books Collection 22
December 2013 Cover Stories for Halloween Vintage (UK) Collection 79
2014 Cover Penny Dreadfuls: Sensational Tales of Terror Fall River Press Anthology 172
May 2014 Cover The Raven and Other Works Corundum Classics Collection
September 2014 Cover The Gold Bug HarperPerennial Classics Collection
September 2014 Cover Tales of Mystery & Imagination Arcturus Publishing Collection 255
October 2015 Cover The Pit and the Pendulum Obscure Press Chapbook
October 2015 Cover The Annotated Poe Belknap Press / Harvard University Press Collection 241
July 2016 Cover Classic Tales of Horror Arcturus Publishing Collection |6
April 2017 Cover Classic Horror Tales Canterbury Classics Anthology |8
May 2017 Cover Classic Tales of Horror Arcturus Publishing Collection
August 2017 Cover Edgar Allan Poe Short Stories Flame Tree Publishing Collection 119
September 2017 Cover Tales of Mystery and Imagination Alfred A. Knopf Collection 101
September 2017 Cover Tales of Mystery and Imagination Alfred A. Knopf Collection 101
November 2017 Cover Horror Short Stories Arcturus Publishing Anthology
March 2018 Cover Horror Short Stories Arcturus Publishing Anthology
December 2018 Cover Edgar Allan Poe Short Stories Flame Tree Publishing Collection |119
2019 Cover Weird Tales Pulp Classics on DVD Anthology 71|10203071
September 2019 Cover His Hideous Heart Flatiron Books Anthology 289
September 2019 Cover His Hideous Heart Flatiron Books Anthology |18
September 2019 Cover His Hideous Heart Macmillan Young Listeners Anthology |18
November 2019 Cover Tales of Mystery & Imagination Arcturus Publishing Collection 255
November 2019 Cover His Hideous Heart Macmillan Young Listeners Anthology |18
March 2020 Cover Tales of Terror In Audio Anthology
August 2020 Cover The Tell-Tale Heart and Other Stories Dover Publications Collection 8
September 2021 Cover His Hideous Heart Flatiron Books Anthology 289