Book Review: The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe

The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe is a short murder mystery, staged against the backdrop of Italy. Told in the first narration, the story is about the motive behind the murder, and where and how it took place. Basically, it remains between two people. The narrator has been hurt and insulted by a wine connoisseur called Fortunato. And he vows to take revenge.

One day Fortunato, dressed in smart clothes, is going to attend a carnival. In the way, the narrator meets and lures him about Amontillado, a famous wine found rarely. Fortunato is more than happy and excited to examine that wine. He takes Fortunato to an old graveyard of his ancestors, where he stores the wine. The graveyard is in the catacombs and is damp. The narrator insists Fortunato not to come as he is having cold, but Fortunato shrugs off all excuses. On the way, the narrator makes him to drink wine regularly. They both enter the catacomb through a big hole. Fortunato gropes there as already in drunken state. He chains Fortunato to the wall and slowly begins filling the hole by bricks. Just before the last brick to be put, Fortunato cries for mercy and takes his name…for the love of God, Montresor…

Here, it gets revealed the name of the narrator. It is Montresor…not disclosing the name until last page is one of the tricks used in the murder mysteries. Allan Poe writes tough mysteries…it was tough to comprehend all the elements.

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