07-27-2014, 11:50 PM | #1 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,674
Karma: 3111989
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Jianghu
Device: PW1, PW5, iPhone SE 2016, iPhone 13 Pro, iPad Pro 9.7, iPad Pro 2021
|
The Murders in the Rue Morgue
There's an afterword in The Mammoth Book of Locked-Room Mysteries and Impossible Crimes, where the editor (Mike Ashley) talks a little about the history of the subgenre. He mentions The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe, and refers to it as "grotesque and bizarre". I'm now on an 'impossible crimes' kick and I want to try The Murders ... but I wondered what was meant by "grotesque and bizarre". Is it horror? Are there supernatural elements? Are the murders overly graphic? I would appreciate some insights (without getting too spoiler-y ). Thanks!
|
07-28-2014, 01:49 AM | #2 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 11,306
Karma: 43993832
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Monroe Wisconsin
Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)
|
E.A. Poe pretty much started the detective genre and The Murders in the Rue Morgue is a detective tale with what many would agree is an odd twist at the end when the murderer is revealed. Of course though we wouldn't probably think it very graphic now you have to remember that Poe died in 1849 at which time it may have seemed so. I mean back then it was the age of the Penny dreadful and the writing style of real news was a lot different than it is today as well.
|
07-28-2014, 06:40 PM | #3 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,674
Karma: 3111989
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Jianghu
Device: PW1, PW5, iPhone SE 2016, iPhone 13 Pro, iPad Pro 9.7, iPad Pro 2021
|
Thanks. I wanted to know if it bends toward the horror genre or if it has supernatural elements; these things are just not my speed and I like to know beforehand.
|
07-28-2014, 06:45 PM | #4 |
Now what?
Posts: 58,630
Karma: 135181808
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Durham, NC
Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!
|
No real horror or supernatural elements .... but as crich70 pointed out, a very strange twist and some graphic descriptions of the murder scene ...
|
07-28-2014, 07:15 PM | #5 | |
E-reader Enthusiast
Posts: 4,871
Karma: 36507503
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Southwest, USA
Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5
|
Quote:
I think of if more as just a really good detective story. I enjoyed the Dupin mysteries enough that I read all 3 short stories. I don't read horror or supernatural writing. I avoid movies in this genre too. Just to provide an example Stephen King is too much for me. |
|
07-28-2014, 07:28 PM | #6 | ||
Wizard
Posts: 1,674
Karma: 3111989
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Jianghu
Device: PW1, PW5, iPhone SE 2016, iPhone 13 Pro, iPad Pro 9.7, iPad Pro 2021
|
Quote:
Quote:
|
||
07-29-2014, 12:36 AM | #8 |
E-reader Enthusiast
Posts: 4,871
Karma: 36507503
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Southwest, USA
Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5
|
I hope you enjoy it, Loosheesh. Happy reading!
|
07-29-2014, 07:31 AM | #9 | |
Wizard
Posts: 1,674
Karma: 3111989
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Jianghu
Device: PW1, PW5, iPhone SE 2016, iPhone 13 Pro, iPad Pro 9.7, iPad Pro 2021
|
Quote:
Thanks! Looking forward to it |
|
07-29-2014, 08:02 AM | #10 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 44,722
Karma: 55645321
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Peru
Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One
|
|
07-29-2014, 12:54 PM | #11 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,479
Karma: 3846231
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy
|
I disagree. It's not horror in the usual meaning of the term. It's a pure locked-room mystery. The "grotesque and bizarre" probably refers to the nature of the crime, although even that's an exaggeration, in my opinion.
To answer the original question, there are no supernatural elements, and the murders are not overly graphic. It's a good story. I especially like the way the different witnesses interpret what they see according to their nationalities and cultural backgrounds. Mike |
07-29-2014, 01:56 PM | #12 |
E-reader Enthusiast
Posts: 4,871
Karma: 36507503
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Southwest, USA
Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5
|
Gothic horror is a specific genre of literature in which Poe's works are categorized. It's the grotesque and inexplicable crime and the bizarre solution that classify it as such. However the word horror then does not have the same connotations as today. I have read several classics in this genre and don't consider them to be very horrific from my modern perspectives. Like I said I basically see it as a good detective mystery too so I think we are much in agreement.
|
07-29-2014, 07:42 PM | #13 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 11,306
Karma: 43993832
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Monroe Wisconsin
Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)
|
Thanks. I wasn't trying to toot my own horn and hope no one else thinks so. I just happened to be the one who had the idea to post the contents of the Raven Edition of his works to MR.
|
07-29-2014, 07:43 PM | #14 |
Grand Sorcerer
Posts: 11,306
Karma: 43993832
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Monroe Wisconsin
Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)
|
You're welcome Loosheesh. I hope you enjoy the book.
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Hunger Games: Katniss & Rue fan video | Exer | General Discussions | 8 | 03-31-2011 07:12 AM |
Short Fiction Poe, Edgar Allan: Der Doppelmord in der Rue Morgue german v1 11 feb 2009 | netseeker | ePub Books | 0 | 02-11-2009 02:07 PM |
Short Fiction Poe, Edgar Allan: Der Doppelmord in der Rue Morgue german v1 11 feb 2009 | netseeker | Kindle Books | 0 | 02-11-2009 02:06 PM |
Short Fiction Poe, Edgar Allan: Der Doppelmord in der Rue Morgue german v1 11 feb 2009 | netseeker | BBeB/LRF Books | 0 | 02-11-2009 02:06 PM |
Short Fiction Poe, Edgar Allan: The Murders In The Rue Morgue v1. 13 Apr 07 | tsgreer | BBeB/LRF Books | 3 | 04-13-2007 10:23 PM |