The Masque of the Red Death
The Masque of the Red Death CD jacket

The Masque of the Red Death

Edgar Allan Poe


The Murders in the Rue Morgue is considered the first detective story. Published in Graham’s Magazine in 1841, it is in Poe’s words a “tale of ratiocination” the displays the awesome powers of deduction possessed by the brilliant detective C. Auguste Dupin. The narrator is a friend who lives with Dupin in seclusion. Dupin becomes intrigued by a double murder of a woman and her daughter in the Rue Morgue of Paris. He offers his services to the prefect of police when a bank clerk is arrested despite a total lack of evidence. Examination of the bodies of the victims and evidence at the crime scene leads Dupin to a couple of quick deductions: first, no gold was taken, so the motive was robbery, and, second, the superhuman strength required to stuff one body up a chimney and a strange tuft of hair suggest the killer was not human. An ad placed in the newspaper regarding a missing orangutan gets a response from a sailor who has lost just such a creature. His account of the escape of the animal is sufficient to explain everything. The story is a masterpiece that set the template for many tales to follow, featuring the likes of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot, accompanied by a narrator, and featuring a final revelation followed by an explication of the reasoning.

Play sample: 

Product Details

Read by: D. S. Harvey
Length: 18 minutes
Type: Solo reading
Media: MP3 CD
Package: CD jacket
Item No.: CJ-6014
EAN/UPC: 0687700170020
List Price: $6.99

Credits

Production

Produced by: D. S. Harvey
Proof Listener: Nan O'Malley

Artwork
Cover: Illustration by Arthur Rackham for “The Masque of the Red Death” from “Poe’s Tales of Mystery and Imagination”, 1935
Inset: Illustration for Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Masque of the Red Death”, 1919, by Harry Clarke
Inset: Daguerrotype of Edgar Allan Poe, 1848, by Edwin H. Manchester

The Recordings

About MP3 Audio

This MP3 digital audiobook is duplicated on compact disc in the MP3 audio format and is designed to play on any computer. It will play on CD and DVD players that are designed with MP3 capability. The files contained in an MP3 CD can be imported and played on mobile devices such as the iPod, iPhone, iPad, Android tablets and smart phones and on PSP (Play Station Portable) and PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) devices. Your CD/DVD player or mobile device owner’s manual should specify whether the device has MP3 compatibility. If the device is not directly compatible with the MP3 Audio format, the files on the MP3 CD can be copied onto a computer drive and then played on the computer media player or transferred to a mobile device.

The Recordings

These recordings were made using the author’s original published work, which is in the public domain. The readings were recorded by members of Librivox.org, which has generously made the recordings available to the public domain. While Librivox condones the sale and distribution of these recordings, it is not associated with the management or operations of MP3 Audiobook Classics. The audio files have been lightly edited and have been engineered using professional audio tools for maximum sonic quality. We spend considerable time and effort to ensure the recordings are free of noise, equalized for maximum listener pleasure, and that tracks are leveled and normalized to provide a consistent listening experience.

Table of Contents

Track Section Length
01 The Masque of the Red Death 17:42

Terms and Conditions

 

Terms of Sale

  • The buyer can pay using the Checkout button when the listing ends or wait to receive an automated email invoice shortly after the listing ends with totals and payment instructions.
  • Checkout must be completed within 7 days of the close of listing.
  • If payment isn’t received within this time period, the item will be re-listed and a Non-Paying Bidder alert will be filed.
  • If we are unable to fulfill your order for any reason your payment will be refunded in full.
 

    Payments

  • PayPal - We accept PayPal and prefer PayPal. Shipping address must be confirmed by PayPal.
  • Major Credit Card - If you do not have or prefer not to use PayPal, then we are happy to accept major credit cards. Your credit card will be charged when you check out.
 

    Shipping

  • Shipping Charges - Items listed with shipping charges will be shipped via the most economic service, and the costs charged reflect our shipping costs. The most economical service is generally USPS First Class for shipments under one pound, which translates to four items or less. USPS Media Mail is often least expensive for shipments of one pound or more.
  • Delivery Times - We ship within 2 business days after receipt of payment. Most items ship via USPS Media Mail or First Class. Lead time for Media Mail is 6-8 days and First Class is 1-4 days. We will notify you by email when your shipment has shipped or if there are any delays.
  • Tracking - Tracking is provided for items on a selective basis. Most items with a paper security sleeve are shipped in a large envelope using tracking by LetterTrackPro. That service is not integrated with eBay. Items shipped with tracking by the USPS will have the tracking number added to the fulfillment details when the number is obtained.
 

    Returns

  • Unopened Merchandise - We will accept returns for unopened merchandise and will issue credit for the value of the item or a refund. Returns of unopened items are subject to a 10% restocking fee, which will be deducted from your credit or refund. We do not refund the original shipping and handling charges.
  • Defective Merchandise - We will accept returns of merchandise that is damaged or will not play. We will ship a replacement item, issue credit for the value of the item, or issue a refund, at the discretion of the customer. Shipping charges, if any, will credited or refunded for defective items. Shipping costs for replacement items will be borne by us.
  • Non-Returnable Merchandise - Items cannot be returned if they have been opened or used and are not physically defective.