The Oval Portrait

Summary

A shadowy, candlelit chamber in a crumbling gothic mansion. A man in 19th-century clothing gazes up at a large, ornately framed portrait of a beautiful woman, her eyes lifelike and sorrowful. The room is draped in shadows and rich tapestries. A cold draft stirs the curtains. The atmosphere is haunting, melancholic, and filled with artistic reverence and dread.

The Oval Portrait by Edgar Allan Poe is a haunting, compact masterpiece of gothic fiction, blending themes of obsession, art, and mortality. First published in 1842, this eerie short story follows a weary traveler who, while resting in an abandoned chateau, becomes transfixed by a striking portrait of a young woman—one that seems almost unnervingly alive.

As he uncovers the painting’s backstory, the tale takes a dark and unforgettable turn. What emerges is a chilling meditation on the destructive power of artistic passion, and the blurred line between life and art.

This full audiobook brings Poe’s rich, atmospheric prose to life with immersive narration that captures the tale’s dread and melancholy. Ideal for listeners drawn to classic horror, literary symbolism, and the macabre genius of Poe.