Edgar Allan Poe

The Facts of M. Valdemar's Case Edgar Allan Poe

Publisher Marketing: The narrator presents the facts of the extraordinary case of Valdemar which have incited public discussion. He is interested in Mesmerism, a pseudoscience involving bringing a patient into a hypnagogic state by the influence of magnetism, a process which later developed into hypnotism. He points out that, as far as he knows, no one has ever been mesmerized at the point of death, and he is curious to see what effects mesmerism would have on a dying person. He considers experimenting on his friend Ernest Valdemar, an author whom he had previously mesmerized, and who has recently been diagnosed with phthisis (tuberculosis). Valdemar consents to the experiment and informs the narrator by letter that he will probably die in twenty-four hours. Valdemar's two physicians inform the narrator of their patient's poor condition. After confirming again that Valdemar is willing to be part of the experiment, the narrator comes back the next night with two nurses and a medical student as witnesses. Again, Valdemar insists he is willing to take part and asks the narrator to hurry, for fear he has "deferred it for too long." Valdemar is quickly mesmerized, just as the two physicians return and serve as additional witnesses. In a trance, he reports first that he is dying - then that he is dead. The narrator leaves him in a mesmeric state for seven months, checking on him daily. During this time Valdemar is without pulse, heartbeat or perceptible breathing, his skin cold and pale. Contributor Bio:  Poe, Edgar Allan Author, poet, and literary critic, Edgar Allan Poe is credited with pioneering the short story genre, inventing detective fiction, and contributing to the development of science fiction. However, Poe is best known for his works of the macabre, including such infamous titles as "The Raven," "The Pit and the Pendulum," "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," "Lenore," and "The Fall of the House of Usher." Part of the American Romantic Movement, Poe was one of the first writers to make his living exclusively through his writing, working for literary journals and becoming known as a literary critic. His works have been widely adapted in film. Edgar Allan Poe died of a mysterious illness in 1849 at the age of 40. Contributor Bio:  Fresneda, Ruben Ruben Fresneda (1988 Alcoy, Alicante), es licenciado en Bellas Artes en la especialidad de Pintura por la Universidad Politecnica de Valencia. Realiza exposiciones por diferentes lugares de la geografia espanola. Ha realizado diversas exposiciones individuales que han recibido el apoyo de entidades como: Concejalia de Juventud del Ayuntamiento de Valencia, Escuela Tecnica Superior de Ingenieria Informatica de Valencia, Campus de Alcoy de la Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Seguros La Union Alcoyana, Ateneo Mercantil de Valencia y Ayuntamiento de Sagunto, entre otros. En diversas exposiciones colectivas ha recibido apoyo de: Palau de la Musica de Valencia, Concejalia de Cultura del Ayuntamiento de Valencia, Departamento de Pintura de la Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Departamento de Dibujo de la Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Societat Coral El Micalet, Ayuntamiento de Mislata y Concejalia de Cultura del Ayuntamiento de Alcoy, entre otros. Ha aparecido en diferentes medios de comunicacion como: Periodico Ciudad de Alcoy, Aramultimedia, Pagina66, Diario Levante, Diario El periodic, Globedia, Diario Informacion, Agenda Urbana de Valencia, El periodico de aqui, Bonart revista d'Art en catala, Cadena Ser, Cope, TV-A... Ahora prepara diversas exposiciones individuales en Madrid. Podemos encontrar obra suya en diversas colecciones privadas de Alcoy, Ibi, Valencia, Sagunto y Madrid.