# The Masque of the Red Death

By Edgar Allan Poe.

"The Masque of the Red Death" by Edgar Allan Poe is a short story first published in 1842. Prince Prospero and a thousand nobles seal themselves inside an abbey to escape a deadly plague called the Red Death. During a lavish masquerade ball in seven color-coded rooms, a mysterious masked figure appears, dressed as a plague victim. As the stranger moves through each chamber, terror spreads among the guests. This Gothic tale explores themes of mortality, isolation, and the futility of escaping death's inevitable reach. (Summary by Project Gutenberg, written by machine.)

- Language: English
- Subjects: Horror tales, American

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From Project Gutenberg. Public domain in the United States.