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The Purloined Letter

Name: The Purloined Letter
Author: Edgar Allan Poe
ISBN: 9781447465980

by Edgar Allan Poe

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Overview

This early work by Edgar Allan Poe was originally published in 1845. Born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1809, Poe became an orphan at a very early age. After being taken in by a couple in Richmond, he spent a brief spell in the United Kingdom before returning to enrol at the University of Virginia. Poe struggled for many years to make a living as a writer and frequently had to move city to stay in employment as a critic. Even for his greatest success, 'The Raven', he only received $9 and, although becoming a household name, his financial position remained far from stable. Poe died in 1849, aged just 40, yet his legacy is a formidable one: He is seen today as one of the greatest practitioners of Gothic and detective fiction that ever lived, and popular culture is replete with references to him. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900's and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions.

The brilliant Dupin uses psychological reasoning to deduce the hiding place of a stolen letter.

Synopsis

This book contains Edgar Allen Poe's 1844 short story, "The Purloined Letter". Famous Parisian detective C. Auguste Dupin is asked by the Prefect of the Police to investigate the theft a letter that is being used by a shady minster as an instrument of blackmail. An exciting tale of mystery and intrigue, "The Purloined Letter" constitutes a must-read for lovers of detective fiction. Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American author, editor, poet, and critic. Most famous for his stories of mystery and horror, he was one of the first American short story writers, and is widely considered to be the inventor of the detective fiction genre. Many antiquarian books such as this are becoming increasingly rare and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new biography of the author.