The Oblong Box

Title: The Oblong Box

Author: Edgar Allan Poe

Narrator: Jonathan Dunne

Original Publication: 1844

Public Domain: Yes

Series Placement: Timeless Terrors No. 68

Description:

The Oblong Box is one of Edgar Allan Poe’s most unsettling maritime tales — a masterclass in suspense, atmosphere, and the horror of human obsession. Set aboard a 19th-century ship, the story follows a passenger who becomes increasingly disturbed by his friend’s secretive behavior surrounding a coffin-sized oblong box. Strange incidents, obsessive guarding of the box, and the tense atmosphere aboard the storm-tossed vessel build a sense of dread.

When the box’s contents are finally revealed, the tragic truth shocks both the narrator and the reader, exposing grief and devotion taken to their darkest extremes. Poe’s skillful storytelling creates terror through suggestion, psychological tension, and the inexorable presence of death.

Narrated by Amazon-bestselling horror author Jonathan Dunne, this performance captures the melancholy, suspense, and gothic intensity that define Poe’s work. While the text itself is in the public domain, this narration and production are copyright © 2025 Jonathan Dunne.

Part of Timeless Terrors, a series dedicated to resurrecting the greatest classic horror stories, The Oblong Box is a haunting reminder that some secrets are best left undisturbed. 🕯️