The Oblong Box

The Oblong Box is a suspenseful horror and mystery short story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1844. The story follows a narrator traveling by ship who becomes curious about his strange fellow passenger, Cornelius Wyatt, and a mysterious oblong-shaped box that he carefully protects during the voyage. As the journey continues, the narrator notices unusual behavior surrounding the box, leading to growing suspicion and tension. After a tragic storm at sea, the horrifying truth about the contents of the box is finally revealed.