The Gold-Bug

The Gold-Bug is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe published in 1843. The plot centers on a secret message that will lead to a buried treasure. Aware of the growing popularity of cryptography and code-breaking, Poe submitted this story to a writing contest sponsored by a Philadelphia newspaper. Winning the grand prize of $100, the story was then published in three installments beginning in June 1843. Set on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, the story is seen as an early form of detective fic...