The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar

In The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar, an unnamed experimenter explores the chilling potential of mesmerism by hypnotizing a terminally ill man, M. Ernest Valdemar, at the moment of his death. As Valdemar’s body shows all signs of death yet remains in a trance for seven months, witnesses document the horrifying results of the experiment. Combining clinical detail with supernatural horror, Edgar Allan Poe blurs the line between a scientific study and a haunting tale, leaving readers questioning the nature of life and death. Originally published in 1845, this disturbing classic captivated audiences to the extent that some believed it to be a real account.