Wine

Two Bottles of Amontillado

“The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult I vowed revenge.” —Montresor in “The Cask of Amontillado”

Do you remember the Edgar Allan Poe short story where the vengeful narrator, promising a sample of his newly acquired cask of Amontillado, lures his victim into the dank catacombs and entombs him behind a brick wall? It is a very succinct story that epitomizes the darkest side of Poe. I love this story and include it in the survey of American literature course I sometimes teach, and this last week marked its inclusion on my reading schedule. Furthermore, it also marked that time of year when I actually go out and purchase a bottle of Amontillado for myself.