Summary:
Set in Italy during the carnival season, The Cask of Amontillado delves into the mind of a diabolical man bent on revenge. Montressor narrates the horrifying tale, which alerts the reader to impending doom for the buffoon Fortunato, who has reportedly inflicted a thousand injuries upon Montressor. Yet, the unwitting Fortunato is easily lured to his demise with an appeal to his vanity. He is asked to authenticate the Amontillado, which Montressor has stored in the catacombs of his palazzo. With each step, the tale’s suspense grows, until at last, the shocking retribution has been exacted.
Text: “The Cask of Amontillado”
Author: Edgar Allan Poe
Published: November 1846
Genre: Horror
Duration: 00:24:04 (about 24 minutes)
File Size: 22 MB
Download: The Cask of Amontillado – MP3
Recording Copyright © 2006 Nikolle Doolin
Glossary:
- Amontillado: a dry sherry
- Catacombs: an underground series of tunnels where dead bodies are laid out in recesses
- Cavern: underground chamber
- Conical Cap and Bells: refers to a jester’s outfit
- Conical: shaped like a cone
- Connoisseurship: expertise
- Flambeaux: a lit torch
- Immolation: destruction
- Impunity: freedom from harm
- In pace requiescat: rest in peace
- Medoc: a red wine
- Nemo me impune lacessit: no one attacks me with impunity
- Nitre: potassium nitrate; a mineral used in the production of explosives
- Palazzo: palace
- Pipe: a cask of wine, or a container used to hold liquid
- Roquelaire: a knee-length cloak
- Unredressed: not corrected
- Virtuoso: one who is highly skilled
