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The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar  By  cover art

The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar

By: Edgar Allan Poe
Narrated by: Walter Zimmerman
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Editorial reviews

A master of suspense, Edgar Allan Poe never fails to disappoint. In this short story, a hypnotism gone wrong leaves a man stuck in a state between death and life. Walter Zimmerman's performance is quiet and thoughtful, appropriately giving this strange story a genuine feeling of unease while also embodying the voice of the narrator, an exacting man of science. Zimmerman adeptly changes speed and tone for his other characters' voices. His pacing is unhurriedly expectant, which builds anxiety in the listener as the patient's sad state is fully revealed. Poe fans looking for an eerie fright will certainly enjoy "The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar."

Publisher's summary

The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar tells the tale of a mesmerist who puts a man in a suspended hypnotic state at the moment of death to see if he can communicate with him after he is dead. While a tale of suspense and horror, it was also, at the time of its publication, a bit of a hoax since it was published without claiming to be fictional, and many took it to be a factual. Poe toyed with this for a while before admitting it was a work of pure fiction.
Public Domain (P)1984 Jimcin Recordings

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A classic Poe Tale

Title: THE FACTS IN THE CASE OF M. VALDEMAR

Author: Edgar Allan Poe

Type of Book: Audiobook - Unabridged

Narrator: Walter Zimmerman

Length: 25 minutes

Genre: Horror, Short Story

Release Date: November 20, 2008

Publisher: Jimcin Recordings

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

~ I received a free copy of this audiobook through AudioBookBlast dot com in exchange for an honest review.

This audiobook is only 25 minutes long which makes it a great lunchtime listen.

It a classic horror short story written by Edgar Allan Poe.

The main characters in this story are Mr. Valdemar and a Mesmerist. Valdemar is on his death bed and the Mesmerist wants to place him in a hypnotic state at the exact moment of his death. The reason for attempting such a strange experiment is to determine whether or not it would be possible to communicate after physical death.

When it was first published there was much controversy surrounding the tale. Why? Well, Mr. Poe did not tell people that it was a work of fiction. Many believed that it was a true account. Eventually Poe had to put an end to the gossip and announced that it was indeed a work of pure fiction.

I enjoyed listening to this audiobook but it has been a long time since I have read any of Poe's work and I had forgotten how archaic the language of the time seems.

I rate this audiobook as 4 out of 5 stars.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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