The Pit and the Pendulum
About this book
"The Pit and the Pendulum" is a short story by American writer Edgar Allan Poe and first published in 1842 in the literary annual The Gift: A Christmas and New Year's Present for 1843. The story is about the torments endured by a prisoner of the Spanish Inquisition, though Poe skews historical facts. The narrator of the story describes his experience of being tortured. The story is especially effective at inspiring fear in the reader because of its heavy focus on the senses, such as sound, emphasizing its reality, unlike many of Poe's stories which are aided by the supernatural. The traditional elements established in popular horror tales at the time are followed, but critical reception has been mixed. The tale has been adapted to film several times.
Reader Profile
3.9/5 · 51 readers · 33 pages · ≈ 37 min · Moderate
How long does it take to read The Pit and the Pendulum?
About ≈ 37 min — 33 pages, assuming roughly 250 words per page at 225 words per minute.
How many pages is The Pit and the Pendulum?
33 pages in its most-read edition.
What genre is The Pit and the Pendulum?
It sits on the Short Stories, Horror, Fiction shelves.
Has The Pit and the Pendulum been made into a movie or TV show?
Yes — screen adaptations include The Pit and the Pendulum (1991), The Pit and the Pendulum (1961).
Is The Pit and the Pendulum in the public domain?
Yes — it is free to read and share.
Who are the main characters in The Pit and the Pendulum?
The main characters include Father Time.
Where does The Pit and the Pendulum take place?
It is set in Toledo, Spain.
Who wrote The Pit and the Pendulum?
Edgar Allan Poe.
Where can I read The Pit and the Pendulum online for free?
It is in the public domain — read it free on Open Library