Jacobs was considered a humorist in turn of the century England, but here he gives us a masterpiece of horror. "The Monkey's Paw" is a Gothic tale, warning us how easily wishes can go awry. One of Poe's most familiar works, "The Pit and the Pendulum" is the first-hand account of a prisoner during the Spanish Inquisition. It is a classic Gothic tale which deals with the experience of entrapment and torture. Wells was primarily a writer of Science Fiction, but here he enters another realm. "The Cone" begins with a visit of two friends, the one showing the other his steel smelting operation. It ends with revenge. Written in 1892, this story of the mental breakdown of a young woman has a modern and realistic feel. It is Gilman's best-known work, and although it is an exceptional example of early feminist writing, it is, at heart, a portrait of terror.