The Tell-Tale Heart

First published in 1843, The Tell-Tale Heart is Edgar Allan Poe at his most brilliantly disturbing. Narrated by an unreliable madman who insists on his own sanity, the story recounts how he murdered an old man because of his "vulture eye" — and then, undone by guilt, imagined hearing the dead man's heart beating louder and louder beneath the floorboards. Written entirely in first person, at a breathless, mounting pace, it is a masterclass in psychological horror and one of the most gripping short stories ever put on paper. Perfect as an audiobook — Poe's prose practically demands to be read aloud.

Each story on this site is narrated by a different natural voice — carefully chosen to bring out the character and tension of the text. Stream free, no account required.