"Hop-Frog" is a short story by American writer Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1849. The title character is a dwarf taken from his homeland who becomes the jester of a king particularly fond of practical jokes. Taking revenge on the king and his cabinet for striking his friend and fellow dwarf Trippetta, he dresses them as orangutans for a masquerade. In front of the king's guests, Hop-Frog murders them all by setting their costumes on fire before escaping with Trippetta. It has been suggested that Poe wrote the story as a form of literary revenge against a women named Elizabeth F. Ellet and several others. Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 - October 7, 1849), born in Boston, Mass., was an American writer, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective-fiction genre. He is further credited with contributing to the merging genre of science fiction. He was the first well-known American writer to try to earn a living through writing alone, resulting in a financially difficult life and career. Patrick Lawlor, a classically trained stage actor, has performed on-stage throughout the US and Europe. He has appeared in several feature films, as well as on the television series, "LA Heat." His extensive work as an audiobook narrator has garnered numerous awards, including an Audie award nomination.