We've got your back. With the Tough-O-Meter, you'll know whether to bring extra layers or Swiss army knives as you summit the literary mountain. (10 = Toughest)
(4) Base Camp
"MS. Found in a Bottle" is short and gets to the point like a lot of Poe's stories. But is also uses a lot of heavy and detailed language, including words that don't see a lot of use these days (Simoom? Scudded?). Be ready for a slog sometimes, but take heart in the fact that the end comes soon (just like it does for the narrator), and the ride's smoother when you have a dictionary at hand.