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C. Auguste Dupin #3
The Purloined Letter
"The Purloined Letter" is a story by American author Edgar Allan Poe. It is the third of his three detective stories featuring the fictional C. Auguste Dupin, the other two being "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" and "The Mystery of Marie Rogêt". These stories are considered to be important early forerunners of the modern detective story. The narrator is discussing with the famous Parisian amateur detective C. Auguste Dupin some of his most celebrated cases when they are joined by the Prefect of the Police, a man known as G—. The Prefect has a case he would like to discuss with Dupin. A letter has been stolen from the boudoir of an unnamed woman by the unscrupulous Minister D—. It is said to contain compromising information. D— was in the room, saw the letter, and switched it for a letter of no importance. He has been blackmailing his victim.
48 pages, Library Binding
First published December 1, 1844
164 people are currently reading
5336 people want to read
About the author
Edgar Allan Poe
9,885 books28.6k followersThe name Poe brings to mind images of murderers and madmen, premature burials, and mysterious women who return from the dead. His works have been in print since 1827 and include such literary classics as The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven, and The Fall of the House of Usher. This versatile writer’s oeuvre includes short stories, poetry, a novel, a textbook, a book of scientific theory, and hundreds of essays and book reviews. He is widely acknowledged as the inventor of the modern detective story and an innovator in the science fiction genre, but he made his living as America’s first great literary critic and theoretician. Poe’s reputation today rests primarily on his tales of terror as well as on his haunting lyric poetry.
Just as the bizarre characters in Poe’s stories have captured the public imagination so too has Poe himself. He is seen as a morbid, mysterious figure lurking in the shadows of moonlit cemeteries or crumbling castles. This is the Poe of legend. But much of what we know about Poe is wrong, the product of a biography written by one of his enemies in an attempt to defame the author’s name.
The real Poe was born to traveling actors in Boston on January 19, 1809. Edgar was the second of three children. His other brother William Henry Leonard Poe would also become a poet before his early death, and Poe’s sister Rosalie Poe would grow up to teach penmanship at a Richmond girls’ school. Within three years of Poe’s birth both of his parents had died, and he was taken in by the wealthy tobacco merchant John Allan and his wife Frances Valentine Allan in Richmond, Virginia while Poe’s siblings went to live with other families. Mr. Allan would rear Poe to be a businessman and a Virginia gentleman, but Poe had dreams of being a writer in emulation of his childhood hero the British poet Lord Byron. Early poetic verses found written in a young Poe’s handwriting on the backs of Allan’s ledger sheets reveal how little interest Poe had in the tobacco business.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_al...
Just as the bizarre characters in Poe’s stories have captured the public imagination so too has Poe himself. He is seen as a morbid, mysterious figure lurking in the shadows of moonlit cemeteries or crumbling castles. This is the Poe of legend. But much of what we know about Poe is wrong, the product of a biography written by one of his enemies in an attempt to defame the author’s name.
The real Poe was born to traveling actors in Boston on January 19, 1809. Edgar was the second of three children. His other brother William Henry Leonard Poe would also become a poet before his early death, and Poe’s sister Rosalie Poe would grow up to teach penmanship at a Richmond girls’ school. Within three years of Poe’s birth both of his parents had died, and he was taken in by the wealthy tobacco merchant John Allan and his wife Frances Valentine Allan in Richmond, Virginia while Poe’s siblings went to live with other families. Mr. Allan would rear Poe to be a businessman and a Virginia gentleman, but Poe had dreams of being a writer in emulation of his childhood hero the British poet Lord Byron. Early poetic verses found written in a young Poe’s handwriting on the backs of Allan’s ledger sheets reveal how little interest Poe had in the tobacco business.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_al...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 808 reviews
December 24, 2023
A royal letter is stolen by a Minister in order that he has a hold over its rightful owner. The police search the minister’s home, looking in every nook and cranny, even taking the furniture apart, but nothing is found. Can amateur detective C.Auguste Dupin solve the mystery?
Published in 1844 by Edgar Allen Poe, I found descriptions of Dupin’s analytical thinking a bit drawn out, but nevertheless enjoyed this Sherlock Holmes type story.
Published in 1844 by Edgar Allen Poe, I found descriptions of Dupin’s analytical thinking a bit drawn out, but nevertheless enjoyed this Sherlock Holmes type story.
April 29, 2023
Book Review
3+ of 5 stars to The Purloined Letter, a short story written in 1844, by Edgar Allan Poe. One of the most interesting facts about this story is that it involves Poe's detective Dupin, who also appears in The Murders in the Rue Morgue. Unlike the Rue Morgue, this mystery contains no gore or horror; it's pure mystery without the overall Gothic depths Poe usually goes to in his literary works. At its core, the story is about a letter that's gone missing, possibly stolen, having changed hands a number of times. Poe's narrator discussed with Dupin all the potential suspects, ruling out everyone but the obvious one. And so, Dupin sets up a test to prove it. As you delve deeper into the story, you begin to question your own view of thievery and the moral codes of "teaching someone a lesson." Many believe the mystery remains unsolved at the end of this one... and while I would tend to agree, it's still a very artful approach to telling the story. It also helped push the mystery genre into more analytical thinking as opposed to true action-based, cut-and-dry physical tracking down of clues. Definite short read for any fans of this genre. And good to compare to other of Poe's works to see the real meaning of the Gothic style of writing.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by.
3+ of 5 stars to The Purloined Letter, a short story written in 1844, by Edgar Allan Poe. One of the most interesting facts about this story is that it involves Poe's detective Dupin, who also appears in The Murders in the Rue Morgue. Unlike the Rue Morgue, this mystery contains no gore or horror; it's pure mystery without the overall Gothic depths Poe usually goes to in his literary works. At its core, the story is about a letter that's gone missing, possibly stolen, having changed hands a number of times. Poe's narrator discussed with Dupin all the potential suspects, ruling out everyone but the obvious one. And so, Dupin sets up a test to prove it. As you delve deeper into the story, you begin to question your own view of thievery and the moral codes of "teaching someone a lesson." Many believe the mystery remains unsolved at the end of this one... and while I would tend to agree, it's still a very artful approach to telling the story. It also helped push the mystery genre into more analytical thinking as opposed to true action-based, cut-and-dry physical tracking down of clues. Definite short read for any fans of this genre. And good to compare to other of Poe's works to see the real meaning of the Gothic style of writing.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by.
July 15, 2020
A simple and not overly thrilling, shortly solved mystery.
October 17, 2025
CALIFICACIÓN REAL: 2.5 estrellas
Se robaron una importantísima carta y, en cuanto al sospechoso: bajo la mira de la policía, aunque logra burlarlos, manteniendo un perfil relativamente bajo. La ubicación del documento es un total misterio, pero así es como nuestro buen amigo Dupin regresa en gloria y majestad, para dar con la ubicación del tan anhelado sobre.
La historia comienza haciendo cierta alusión a Los asesinatos de la rue Morgue y El misterio de Marie Rogêt, que fueron unos casos anteriores ya resueltos por Dupin. Una verdadera lástima que mi edición de Narraciones extraordinarias no incluyese el último relato, para así haber podido simpatizar mejor con esta introducción.
El tema es, que estos tres títulos conforman una especie de trilogía, así que me verán mencionar bastante al primero, por ser el único que he leído junto con el presente.
La carta robada se divide en dos partes: la primera, que es cuando el prefecto de policía solicita la ayuda de Dupin; y la segunda, que se basa en su resolución del caso. Esta primera parte es algo divertida y que puede causar gracia, ya que se enfoca en Dupin y en el narrador indagando en los métodos del prefecto y sus agentes; prefecto que aparentemente es el mismo personaje aludido en el final de Los asesinatos de la rue Morgue.
En cuanto a la resolución, es el momento cuando el relato decae por completo. Si bien en El escarabajo de oro me confesé alérgico a las matemáticas, debido a la presentación y desciframiento del criptograma, acá se nos habla en exceso sobre la lógica del álgebra. Hubo demasiada la palabrería para eso último.
De igual forma, en cierto momento, me pareció bastante inverosímil que la recuperación de la carta por parte de Dupin resulte a la perfección por algo tan circunstancial, como puede ser un supuesto justo en el momento adecuado. Aunque sospeché que él podría estar detrás de aquel fortuito evento, igual decidí incluir esto de manera anticipada en mis apuntes para escribir esta reseña; por lo que me gané un 🤡 con honores.
La segunda del título parte nos muestra una resolución que como material literario está bastante acertada, pero su resultado —creo yo— es totalmente insignificante para el lector. También hay que sumarle su notoria decaída, debido a la porción tan algebraica e innecesaria que presenta. Además, es verdad que la resolución no es la gran cosa, a diferencia de las que había en Los asesinatos de la rue Morgue y en El escarabajo de oro, que se basaban en el ingenio puro y duro; pero aquí, en La carta robada, se siente como si el resultado fuese ingenuo y hasta rebuscado, para dejar a la policía muy sistematizada con sus métodos —que también—.
Tal resolución no es muy convincente como tampoco lo es la innecesaria presencia de Dupin, ya que, si tanta era la recompensa por la carta, encontrarla no hubiese sido algo muy complicado para algún otro detective o investigador privado que se interesasen por el caso, empleando una lógica diferente a la policial.
Más encima, durante la trama y su resolución no sucede nada interesante, porque es una lectura sumamente simplista. Desafortunadamente, no hay ningún plot twist con el distintivo sello del autor: el sospechoso era quien efectivamente tenía la carta en su poder ¿El gran misterio? …
Con respecto al final, me esperaba que hubiese habido algún mensaje o moraleja con cierta gracia y no algo con tanta clase, elegancia y sofisticación si se trataba de una supuesta de parte de Dupin hacia el ministro D; pero como decía el gran don Ramón: «la venganza nunca es buena, mata el alma y la envenena».
Tal conclusión es bastante floja e insípida, aunque por lo que he investigado, la cita final haría referencia a que Dupin y el ministro posiblemente sean hermanos; cosa que no creo. Si esto fuera algo real dentro del lore del relato, el mismo narrador o el prefecto hubieran hecho algún hincapié de forma más explícita, para que Dupin influya más en el asunto.
Además, el narrador está al tanto de que el ministro tiene un hermano aparentemente involucrado en la literatura, y Dupin hace referencia en que es autor de un par de malas rimas. Personalmente, creo que solo es una coincidencia, cuya mención es con intenciones algo irónicas por Dupin; e incluso, quizá hasta decorativas por parte de Poe, debido al contexto que se estaba desarrollando en esos momentos: «No será un loco —dijo el Prefecto—, pero es un poeta, por lo que, según mi opinión, se encuentra muy cerca de la locura. —Cierto— afirmó Dupin, aspirando pensativo su pipa —aun— que me confieso autor de un par de malas rimas».
Si es que efectivamente estos personajes fuesen hermanos, el ministro sospecharía 100% de la visita de Dupin, ya que lo conocería muy bien por razones bastante obvias, y la carta no estaría a la vista de él al momento de la segunda visita; por lo que esta supuesta hermandad entre ambos personajes queda totalmente descartada por mí, y esa es la razón por la que no oculto este tema como posible spoiler.
En general, esta es una lectura con cierta gracia durante la participación del prefecto, pero que luego no es recordable, por presentar una historia bastante floja. Asimismo, no existe motivación para preguntarse sobre la posible ubicación de la carta. Aquel asunto se hace totalmente indiferente, a diferencia de lo que se nos ofrecía en Los asesinatos de la rue Morgue, donde claramente nos motivaba a intentar descubrir y buscar las respuestas por nosotros mismos: en mi caso, hasta llegué a sospechar de los protagonistas; en la presente obra no me cuestioné absolutamente nada. También lograba que no quisieras detener lectura, para saber el desenlace de todo; en cambio, esta lo único que logra es que quieras terminar el cuento para pasar al siguiente texto que esté de turno en la antología, o hacer alguna otra actividad de más interés (como escribirle una reseña).
Para dar mi veredicto y calificación final, puedo decir que como relato detectivesco no me cautivó en lo más mínimo. Durante la reseña de Los asesinatos de la rue Morgue, indiqué que me abría las puertas para Sherlock Holmes, de Arthur Conan Doyle y también para las historias de Agatha Christie; aunque, si primero hubiese leído La carta robada, el resultado no habría sido tan favorable como lo fue inicialmente, y las puertas posiblemente se hubieran cerrado al género con este hipotético primer acercamiento.
Ya está bien evidenciado, esta lectura no me convenció. Siento que tiene la misma vibra que Los anteojos y, aunque la historia de esta última sea menos motivante que la presente, por tener tintes de amoríos, —cosa que tampoco es de mi interés—, me divertí más con esa que con esta.
Resumiendo todo: la trama es muy poco atractiva, no ocurre nada interesante y/o relevante durante su transcurso, hay partes tediosas e innecesarias, tiene un final bastante soso y como lectura es totalmente olvidable y floja. Mi calificación es de 2.5 estrellas, lo cual significa que es un relato pasable y/o aceptable, pero que no me cautivó ni que conecté con él. Siento que quizás exagero un poco, pero no puedo calificar a La carta robada con ★★★☆☆, sabiendo que esa fue la puntuación que le di a El escarabajo de oro.
Aparte, quedó en deuda saber qué fue lo que el ministro D. le hizo a Dupin en Viena, y en qué consistía el beneficio otorgado por la carta; aunque espero que lo primero sea algo que se sepa en la segunda parte de la trilogía. Igualmente, me hubiera gustado que de nuevo el prefecto esté involucrado en la terminación de esta historia, ya que esta vez sí hubiese tenido sentido su participación, a diferencia de la que tuvo de la nada en Los asesinatos de la rue Morgue.
No puedo terminar esto sin mencionar que, debido a mis posteriores pesquisas, llegué a una declaración de Poe, en la que afirmaba que la presente obra era su mejor relato detectivesco o investigativo. Ante una declaración así, como lector crítico que escribe reseñas que nadie lee, debo decir que desde mi perspectiva veo al presente título bastante lejos de El escarabajo de oro, y mucho más de Los asesinatos de la rue Morgue; y, si bien no he leído El misterio de Marie Rogêt, no me cabe duda de que es muy probable que también sea mejor y más interesante que La carta robada, lo cual algún día sabré.
Para no perder el hilo con las demás reseñas que he hecho sobre las obras de Edgar Allan Poe:
1) El gato negro, cuya reseña está bugueada en el feed de Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
2) El cuervo, el único poema que he reseñado de este autor: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
3) Narraciones extraordinarias, recopilatorio en donde reúno a los 28 relatos que he leído de Poe, además de incluir un top personal al respecto; junto con dar mi opinión en profundidad sobre él como autor: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Se robaron una importantísima carta y, en cuanto al sospechoso: bajo la mira de la policía, aunque logra burlarlos, manteniendo un perfil relativamente bajo. La ubicación del documento es un total misterio, pero así es como nuestro buen amigo Dupin regresa en gloria y majestad, para dar con la ubicación del tan anhelado sobre.
La historia comienza haciendo cierta alusión a Los asesinatos de la rue Morgue y El misterio de Marie Rogêt, que fueron unos casos anteriores ya resueltos por Dupin. Una verdadera lástima que mi edición de Narraciones extraordinarias no incluyese el último relato, para así haber podido simpatizar mejor con esta introducción.
El tema es, que estos tres títulos conforman una especie de trilogía, así que me verán mencionar bastante al primero, por ser el único que he leído junto con el presente.
La carta robada se divide en dos partes: la primera, que es cuando el prefecto de policía solicita la ayuda de Dupin; y la segunda, que se basa en su resolución del caso. Esta primera parte es algo divertida y que puede causar gracia, ya que se enfoca en Dupin y en el narrador indagando en los métodos del prefecto y sus agentes; prefecto que aparentemente es el mismo personaje aludido en el final de Los asesinatos de la rue Morgue.
En cuanto a la resolución, es el momento cuando el relato decae por completo. Si bien en El escarabajo de oro me confesé alérgico a las matemáticas, debido a la presentación y desciframiento del criptograma, acá se nos habla en exceso sobre la lógica del álgebra. Hubo demasiada la palabrería para eso último.
De igual forma, en cierto momento, me pareció bastante inverosímil que la recuperación de la carta por parte de Dupin resulte a la perfección por algo tan circunstancial, como puede ser un supuesto justo en el momento adecuado. Aunque sospeché que él podría estar detrás de aquel fortuito evento, igual decidí incluir esto de manera anticipada en mis apuntes para escribir esta reseña; por lo que me gané un 🤡 con honores.
La segunda del título parte nos muestra una resolución que como material literario está bastante acertada, pero su resultado —creo yo— es totalmente insignificante para el lector. También hay que sumarle su notoria decaída, debido a la porción tan algebraica e innecesaria que presenta. Además, es verdad que la resolución no es la gran cosa, a diferencia de las que había en Los asesinatos de la rue Morgue y en El escarabajo de oro, que se basaban en el ingenio puro y duro; pero aquí, en La carta robada, se siente como si el resultado fuese ingenuo y hasta rebuscado, para dejar a la policía muy sistematizada con sus métodos —que también—.
Tal resolución no es muy convincente como tampoco lo es la innecesaria presencia de Dupin, ya que, si tanta era la recompensa por la carta, encontrarla no hubiese sido algo muy complicado para algún otro detective o investigador privado que se interesasen por el caso, empleando una lógica diferente a la policial.
Más encima, durante la trama y su resolución no sucede nada interesante, porque es una lectura sumamente simplista. Desafortunadamente, no hay ningún plot twist con el distintivo sello del autor: el sospechoso era quien efectivamente tenía la carta en su poder ¿El gran misterio? …
Con respecto al final, me esperaba que hubiese habido algún mensaje o moraleja con cierta gracia y no algo con tanta clase, elegancia y sofisticación si se trataba de una supuesta de parte de Dupin hacia el ministro D; pero como decía el gran don Ramón: «la venganza nunca es buena, mata el alma y la envenena».
Tal conclusión es bastante floja e insípida, aunque por lo que he investigado, la cita final haría referencia a que Dupin y el ministro posiblemente sean hermanos; cosa que no creo. Si esto fuera algo real dentro del lore del relato, el mismo narrador o el prefecto hubieran hecho algún hincapié de forma más explícita, para que Dupin influya más en el asunto.
Además, el narrador está al tanto de que el ministro tiene un hermano aparentemente involucrado en la literatura, y Dupin hace referencia en que es autor de un par de malas rimas. Personalmente, creo que solo es una coincidencia, cuya mención es con intenciones algo irónicas por Dupin; e incluso, quizá hasta decorativas por parte de Poe, debido al contexto que se estaba desarrollando en esos momentos: «No será un loco —dijo el Prefecto—, pero es un poeta, por lo que, según mi opinión, se encuentra muy cerca de la locura. —Cierto— afirmó Dupin, aspirando pensativo su pipa —aun— que me confieso autor de un par de malas rimas».
Si es que efectivamente estos personajes fuesen hermanos, el ministro sospecharía 100% de la visita de Dupin, ya que lo conocería muy bien por razones bastante obvias, y la carta no estaría a la vista de él al momento de la segunda visita; por lo que esta supuesta hermandad entre ambos personajes queda totalmente descartada por mí, y esa es la razón por la que no oculto este tema como posible spoiler.
En general, esta es una lectura con cierta gracia durante la participación del prefecto, pero que luego no es recordable, por presentar una historia bastante floja. Asimismo, no existe motivación para preguntarse sobre la posible ubicación de la carta. Aquel asunto se hace totalmente indiferente, a diferencia de lo que se nos ofrecía en Los asesinatos de la rue Morgue, donde claramente nos motivaba a intentar descubrir y buscar las respuestas por nosotros mismos: en mi caso, hasta llegué a sospechar de los protagonistas; en la presente obra no me cuestioné absolutamente nada. También lograba que no quisieras detener lectura, para saber el desenlace de todo; en cambio, esta lo único que logra es que quieras terminar el cuento para pasar al siguiente texto que esté de turno en la antología, o hacer alguna otra actividad de más interés (como escribirle una reseña).
Para dar mi veredicto y calificación final, puedo decir que como relato detectivesco no me cautivó en lo más mínimo. Durante la reseña de Los asesinatos de la rue Morgue, indiqué que me abría las puertas para Sherlock Holmes, de Arthur Conan Doyle y también para las historias de Agatha Christie; aunque, si primero hubiese leído La carta robada, el resultado no habría sido tan favorable como lo fue inicialmente, y las puertas posiblemente se hubieran cerrado al género con este hipotético primer acercamiento.
Ya está bien evidenciado, esta lectura no me convenció. Siento que tiene la misma vibra que Los anteojos y, aunque la historia de esta última sea menos motivante que la presente, por tener tintes de amoríos, —cosa que tampoco es de mi interés—, me divertí más con esa que con esta.
Resumiendo todo: la trama es muy poco atractiva, no ocurre nada interesante y/o relevante durante su transcurso, hay partes tediosas e innecesarias, tiene un final bastante soso y como lectura es totalmente olvidable y floja. Mi calificación es de 2.5 estrellas, lo cual significa que es un relato pasable y/o aceptable, pero que no me cautivó ni que conecté con él. Siento que quizás exagero un poco, pero no puedo calificar a La carta robada con ★★★☆☆, sabiendo que esa fue la puntuación que le di a El escarabajo de oro.
Aparte, quedó en deuda saber qué fue lo que el ministro D. le hizo a Dupin en Viena, y en qué consistía el beneficio otorgado por la carta; aunque espero que lo primero sea algo que se sepa en la segunda parte de la trilogía. Igualmente, me hubiera gustado que de nuevo el prefecto esté involucrado en la terminación de esta historia, ya que esta vez sí hubiese tenido sentido su participación, a diferencia de la que tuvo de la nada en Los asesinatos de la rue Morgue.
No puedo terminar esto sin mencionar que, debido a mis posteriores pesquisas, llegué a una declaración de Poe, en la que afirmaba que la presente obra era su mejor relato detectivesco o investigativo. Ante una declaración así, como lector crítico que escribe reseñas que nadie lee, debo decir que desde mi perspectiva veo al presente título bastante lejos de El escarabajo de oro, y mucho más de Los asesinatos de la rue Morgue; y, si bien no he leído El misterio de Marie Rogêt, no me cabe duda de que es muy probable que también sea mejor y más interesante que La carta robada, lo cual algún día sabré.
Para no perder el hilo con las demás reseñas que he hecho sobre las obras de Edgar Allan Poe:
1) El gato negro, cuya reseña está bugueada en el feed de Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
2) El cuervo, el único poema que he reseñado de este autor: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
3) Narraciones extraordinarias, recopilatorio en donde reúno a los 28 relatos que he leído de Poe, además de incluir un top personal al respecto; junto con dar mi opinión en profundidad sobre él como autor: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
November 10, 2015
"Perhaps it is the very simplicity of the thing which puts you at fault."
My first Dupin-tale by Poe; and it was impressive! I enjoyed every bit of it. Very Engrossing. Explanations given by Dupin at the end of the story are epic and quenches all the thirst inside you. I can guess now why Sherlock Holmes despised Dupin. Conan Doyle, I'm sure, was inspired from these Dupin-tales that he created, on almost similar lines, Dr. Watson as the sidekick of Sherlock Holmes, and Lestrade as Mr. G-.
A very intriguing tale, which I guess (just a guess) that inspired, too, the character of Charles Augustus Milverton.
Highly Recommended!
My first Dupin-tale by Poe; and it was impressive! I enjoyed every bit of it. Very Engrossing. Explanations given by Dupin at the end of the story are epic and quenches all the thirst inside you. I can guess now why Sherlock Holmes despised Dupin. Conan Doyle, I'm sure, was inspired from these Dupin-tales that he created, on almost similar lines, Dr. Watson as the sidekick of Sherlock Holmes, and Lestrade as Mr. G-.
A very intriguing tale, which I guess (just a guess) that inspired, too, the character of Charles Augustus Milverton.
Highly Recommended!
July 31, 2019
Here we have the third appearance of master investigator C. Auguste Dupin. This time a royal letter was stolen by a minister. Can Dupin find the whereabouts of the letter? Prefect G is desperate since his men thoroughly searched the premises of the minister with no avail. Following Dupin's brilliant logic and sharp mind everything seems to be so easy to solve the case. Another well plotted and interesting story. In my opinion it was a bit weaker though than both its precursors. But nevertheless absolutely recommended (if you read the other stories anyway). Poe comes up with a fine detective story here you can't put down.
February 19, 2023
Poe came up with this story which launched a thousand (and more) stories using an amateur elite detective, a slightly dim sidekick, dimmer police, a master criminal, a room that contains all the action, and a mystery hidden in plain sight. Poe’s Purloined Letter was published in 1844. Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie admitted to being fans of Poe’s detective, C. Auguste Dupin who appears in three of Poe’s stories beginning in 1841. Endless authors have used the formula since.
It’s an interesting start and obviously caught the attention of writers who thought to use the pattern found here. Where would Britbox be without Poe’s lead. You might say this is not a typical Poe story however. There is no elevated horror, creaking chains or people buried alive and the story has nothing to do with furthering the career of Vincent Price.
It’s an interesting start and obviously caught the attention of writers who thought to use the pattern found here. Where would Britbox be without Poe’s lead. You might say this is not a typical Poe story however. There is no elevated horror, creaking chains or people buried alive and the story has nothing to do with furthering the career of Vincent Price.
July 1, 2017
القصة الثالثة، والأخيرة للأسف، لأول مخبر في التاريخ
هي لعبة ذكاء، وتحدي وسياسة..وانتقام..ورسالة مسروقة مخفية ببراعة
هنا تظهر العلاقة المعقدة بين دوبين والشرطي ج الذي يطلب منه خدمه معرفة مكان رسالة مهمة، سرقها وزير من شخصية سياسية مهمة للغاية
هنا تظهر فيها طبيعة مرحة لسي أوجست دوبين، بل ولمحه من ماضيه
حيث انه سيقبل المهمة -هذه المرة لا يتطوع لها كالسابق- وانما يقبل مبلغا ضخما من حساب الشرطي نفسه
وايضا لينتقم انتقاما شخصيا من الوزير بسبب مواجهة بينهما سابقة
ان مهنة التحري الخاص، المخبر السري
Detective لم تكن قد صيغت بعد ولم تظهر من قبل
لذا قد تعد ايضا هذه القصة، الثالثة، الرسالة المسروقة، هي اول قصة يستخدم فيها الشرطة مهمات التحري الخاص
شعرت ان هذه القصة رغم قصرها لها روح اكثر بكثير من القصة سابقتها
مراجعة لغز ماري روجيه
وبها ما بدأه في القصة الأولي من معايشة القصة بحوار وسيناريو ، بل وتتفوق نهايتها من وجهة نظري من "تقفيلة" حبكة القصة الاولي التي جاء سرها بشكل غير مرضي -لكن استخدام انسان الغاب عاما في القصة الاولي كان بسبب شهرته في الشهور التي صدرت بها الرواية
مراجعة الجرائم في شارع المشرحة
ولكن تظل نقاط هنا في هذه القصة تركت لتكهنات القارئ واهمها
-الشخصية التي قام الوزير بسرقة الرسالة منها...البعض يري انها الملكة ، نظرا للمكافأة الكبيرة وقيمتها السياسية
-فحوي الرسالة نفسها ... والتكهنات التي صدرت عن الامر أن طالما ان صاحبتها الملكة، فهي وثيقة اقصاء الملك سياسيا
-سر المواجهة السابقة او العداء بين شيرلوك و الوزير ، خرجت تكهنات أن الوزير هو الأخ الاكبر لدوبين نفسه بسبب الاقتباس الذي استخدمه في الرسالة
ولا تنس أن دوبين من أصل عريق ولكنه فقد ثروته كما ذكر بالقصة الاولي
برغم ترك الكثير من تلك الامور لمخيلتنا، وبرغم قصر تلك القصة كثيرا عن سابقتيها ، الا ان جرعة الذكاء بها اعلي -سواء في تخمين أماكن تخبئة الرسالة وطرق البحث الدقيقة المعقدة- ، والحكمة ايضا -وكيف يجب ان تضع عقلك مكان عقل غريمك وتتنبأ بخطواته كأنه يواجهك
للاسف، اعجبتني بشكل كبير ، للاسف لانها الاخيرة لدوبين
نعم انا مهووس بتخيل هذا الرجل كمحقق سري كما في كورموران سترايك وغيرها من الروايات، ولاتنس انه كان فرنسيا في البؤساء ، ونبيلا في كيت وليبود
قد لا يكون أوجست دوبين مشهورا كلاحقيه من المخبرين ، ليس في شهرة شيرلوك ولا بغزارة مغامرات هيركول بوارو ، ولم ينتج عنه افلام كالفهد الوردي و باتمان ولا حلقات كرتون ككونان ولا مسلسل تنتجه بي بي سي ككورموران سترايك... وحتي محاولات كتابة مغامرات اخري للشخصية من مؤلفين معاصرين لم تلق النجاح المسموع كغيره
لكن يظل دوبين فريدا متفردا رغم بساطة قصصه
فهو ، لا تنس، أول مخبر في التاريخ
محمد العربي
في 20 ابريل 2017
هي لعبة ذكاء، وتحدي وسياسة..وانتقام..ورسالة مسروقة مخفية ببراعة
هنا تظهر العلاقة المعقدة بين دوبين والشرطي ج الذي يطلب منه خدمه معرفة مكان رسالة مهمة، سرقها وزير من شخصية سياسية مهمة للغاية
هنا تظهر فيها طبيعة مرحة لسي أوجست دوبين، بل ولمحه من ماضيه
حيث انه سيقبل المهمة -هذه المرة لا يتطوع لها كالسابق- وانما يقبل مبلغا ضخما من حساب الشرطي نفسه
وايضا لينتقم انتقاما شخصيا من الوزير بسبب مواجهة بينهما سابقة
فكما قلت بمراجعة القصة الاولي
ان مهنة التحري الخاص، المخبر السري
Detective لم تكن قد صيغت بعد ولم تظهر من قبل
لذا قد تعد ايضا هذه القصة، الثالثة، الرسالة المسروقة، هي اول قصة يستخدم فيها الشرطة مهمات التحري الخاص
شعرت ان هذه القصة رغم قصرها لها روح اكثر بكثير من القصة سابقتها
مراجعة لغز ماري روجيه
وبها ما بدأه في القصة الأولي من معايشة القصة بحوار وسيناريو ، بل وتتفوق نهايتها من وجهة نظري من "تقفيلة" حبكة القصة الاولي التي جاء سرها بشكل غير مرضي -لكن استخدام انسان الغاب عاما في القصة الاولي كان بسبب شهرته في الشهور التي صدرت بها الرواية
مراجعة الجرائم في شارع المشرحة
ولكن تظل نقاط هنا في هذه القصة تركت لتكهنات القارئ واهمها
-الشخصية التي قام الوزير بسرقة الرسالة منها...البعض يري انها الملكة ، نظرا للمكافأة الكبيرة وقيمتها السياسية
-فحوي الرسالة نفسها ... والتكهنات التي صدرت عن الامر أن طالما ان صاحبتها الملكة، فهي وثيقة اقصاء الملك سياسيا
-سر المواجهة السابقة او العداء بين شيرلوك و الوزير ، خرجت تكهنات أن الوزير هو الأخ الاكبر لدوبين نفسه بسبب الاقتباس الذي استخدمه في الرسالة
ولا تنس أن دوبين من أصل عريق ولكنه فقد ثروته كما ذكر بالقصة الاولي
برغم ترك الكثير من تلك الامور لمخيلتنا، وبرغم قصر تلك القصة كثيرا عن سابقتيها ، الا ان جرعة الذكاء بها اعلي -سواء في تخمين أماكن تخبئة الرسالة وطرق البحث الدقيقة المعقدة- ، والحكمة ايضا -وكيف يجب ان تضع عقلك مكان عقل غريمك وتتنبأ بخطواته كأنه يواجهك
للاسف، اعجبتني بشكل كبير ، للاسف لانها الاخيرة لدوبين
نعم انا مهووس بتخيل هذا الرجل كمحقق سري كما في كورموران سترايك وغيرها من الروايات، ولاتنس انه كان فرنسيا في البؤساء ، ونبيلا في كيت وليبود
قد لا يكون أوجست دوبين مشهورا كلاحقيه من المخبرين ، ليس في شهرة شيرلوك ولا بغزارة مغامرات هيركول بوارو ، ولم ينتج عنه افلام كالفهد الوردي و باتمان ولا حلقات كرتون ككونان ولا مسلسل تنتجه بي بي سي ككورموران سترايك... وحتي محاولات كتابة مغامرات اخري للشخصية من مؤلفين معاصرين لم تلق النجاح المسموع كغيره
لكن يظل دوبين فريدا متفردا رغم بساطة قصصه
فهو ، لا تنس، أول مخبر في التاريخ
محمد العربي
في 20 ابريل 2017
May 29, 2025
Nil sapientiae odiosius acumine nimio. — Seneca
And so begins the classic The Purloined Letter by Edgar Allan Poe originally published in 1844. In a small room in Paris an unnamed narrator is sitting quietly with his friend, C. Auguste Dupin, when the prefect of the Paris police comes to consult once again with Dupin. It seems that a letter has been taken from the Royal Apartments but while the police know it was taken by an important government official, Minister D-. However they have been unable to find the letter despite searching his lodging thoroughly and several times in his absence. The problem is that the information contained in the letter would implicate the royal Lady because of the sensitive nature of the purloined letter and hinting at treasonous acts.
One month later the narrator and Dupin are again sitting together when the prefect of the Paris Police Department visits. The prefect says that he has been unable to find the letter and the reward has been increased to 50,000 francs payable to anyone who finds the letter. Dupin then asks the prefect to write him a check. Upon receipt of the check, Dupin hands the prefect the letter. He then goes on to explain that the minister is intelligent enough to know not to hide the letter in the nooks and crannies of his apartment where the police concentrated their search, but instead, chooses to hide the letter in plain sight. Dupin then goes on to tell the prefect how he used the powers of deduction and observation to obtain the letter without the knowledge of the minister.
It has been established that The Purloined Letter along with The Murders in Rue Morgue, established a new genre for short fiction in literature and that of the mystery genre. The tale is told through a series of flashbacks as the narrator and C. Auguste Dupin sit in the library and discuss ideas and investigative techniques and the process utilized by Dupin to solve the mystery.
October 1, 2019
Starting off October with an Edgar Allen Poe detective mystery! "The Purloined Letter" is one of Poe's more memorable stories, featuring his amateur detective C. Auguste Dupin, who could give Sherlock Holmes a run for his money.
This story is more analytical than adventurous: Dupin and his friend, the narrator of the tale, sit in a dimly lit library, enjoying their pipes and their company, when the prefect of the Parisian police comes in with a tale of woe: Reading between the lines a little, the Queen of France has received a love letter that would compromise and ruin her if it became public. The letter was stolen by an unscrupulous minister, who is now using it to blackmail her. The prefect (motivated in part by a huge reward for finding the letter) has secretly searched the minister's home every night for three months, using the best searching techniques, and can't find it. Everyone agrees that the letter MUST be in his home somewhere. But where? Dupin gives a hint right at the start of the story, but the prefect doesn't pick up on it (in fact, he ridicules it).
There's some delightful characterization and humor in this story. There's also a bit too much abstruse and tedious talk about logic and deduction (after trying to wade through these parts for a while, I gave up and skimmed). I have to say I'm not entirely convinced by the logical underpinnings of the story, despite all the fancy reasoning.
But (other than the tedious bits) it's a fun detective story with a really great conclusion. You can read this 1844 story online many places, including here: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/POE...
Bonus: Translations of some of the Latin and French phrases in this story:
- "Nil sapientiae odiosus acumine nimio" (Seneca): "Nothing is so hateful to wisdom as an excess of cleverness".
- Non distributio medii: the fallacy of the undistributed middle (a logical fallacy).
- "Il y a a parier que toute idee publique, toute convention recue, est un sottise, car elle a convenue a plus grand nombre": you can bet on the fact that any idea and convention that is widely accepted is wrong, for it is simply convenient to the greatest number.
- "Facilis descensus Averni": descent into hell is easy. "Averni" translates to "Hell" because Lake Avernus was believed to be the entrance to the underworld.
- "Un dessein si funeste/S'il n'est digne d'Atree, est digne de Thyeste": a scheme so hateful, if it is not worthy of Atreus, is worthy of Thyestes, or alternatively: "So grievous a plan, if not worthy of Atree, is dignified by Thyeste." (Atreus & Thyestes were feuding twin brothers in Greek mythology. Thyestes sleeps with Atreus' wife; Atreus gets revenge by killing Thyestes' children and serving them to Thyestes in a stew which Thyestes eats. Thyestes then gets revenge by consulting an oracle, which advises to have a son who would then kill Atreus.)
Credit for most of these translations goes to http://faculty.uml.edu/whitley_kaufma...
This story is more analytical than adventurous: Dupin and his friend, the narrator of the tale, sit in a dimly lit library, enjoying their pipes and their company, when the prefect of the Parisian police comes in with a tale of woe: Reading between the lines a little, the Queen of France has received a love letter that would compromise and ruin her if it became public. The letter was stolen by an unscrupulous minister, who is now using it to blackmail her. The prefect (motivated in part by a huge reward for finding the letter) has secretly searched the minister's home every night for three months, using the best searching techniques, and can't find it. Everyone agrees that the letter MUST be in his home somewhere. But where? Dupin gives a hint right at the start of the story, but the prefect doesn't pick up on it (in fact, he ridicules it).
There's some delightful characterization and humor in this story. There's also a bit too much abstruse and tedious talk about logic and deduction (after trying to wade through these parts for a while, I gave up and skimmed). I have to say I'm not entirely convinced by the logical underpinnings of the story, despite all the fancy reasoning.
But (other than the tedious bits) it's a fun detective story with a really great conclusion. You can read this 1844 story online many places, including here: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/POE...
Bonus: Translations of some of the Latin and French phrases in this story:
- "Nil sapientiae odiosus acumine nimio" (Seneca): "Nothing is so hateful to wisdom as an excess of cleverness".
- Non distributio medii: the fallacy of the undistributed middle (a logical fallacy).
- "Il y a a parier que toute idee publique, toute convention recue, est un sottise, car elle a convenue a plus grand nombre": you can bet on the fact that any idea and convention that is widely accepted is wrong, for it is simply convenient to the greatest number.
- "Facilis descensus Averni": descent into hell is easy. "Averni" translates to "Hell" because Lake Avernus was believed to be the entrance to the underworld.
- "Un dessein si funeste/S'il n'est digne d'Atree, est digne de Thyeste": a scheme so hateful, if it is not worthy of Atreus, is worthy of Thyestes, or alternatively: "So grievous a plan, if not worthy of Atree, is dignified by Thyeste." (Atreus & Thyestes were feuding twin brothers in Greek mythology. Thyestes sleeps with Atreus' wife; Atreus gets revenge by killing Thyestes' children and serving them to Thyestes in a stew which Thyestes eats. Thyestes then gets revenge by consulting an oracle, which advises to have a son who would then kill Atreus.)
Credit for most of these translations goes to http://faculty.uml.edu/whitley_kaufma...
October 5, 2018
After reading this, I could see how Poe helped inspire A.C. Doyle with his most famous character.
October 7, 2022
This is a very short story, very short but packs a punch. Auguste Dupin, who was also the main character in Poe's Murders in the Rue Morgue returns to assist the Sureté in discovering a stolen letter which may have serious repercussions for the government. We are never told exactly what the letter contains or why it is so important but it really isn't necessary to the story. The police know the general location of the letter and have done a complete search of that location with no results. So they turn to Dupin and voila, he finds it in a most unexpected place.
There is no murder or spooky aspects to this little tale....just delight when the reader thinks "Why didn't I think of that?". A quick and satisfying read.
There is no murder or spooky aspects to this little tale....just delight when the reader thinks "Why didn't I think of that?". A quick and satisfying read.
December 4, 2023
- قصة اخرى للمحقق المغمور "دوبان"، تتدرج بشكل عقلي في استقراء الأحداث والربط فيما بينها واستخلاص النتائج واقامة الأحكام المناسبة وصولاً للحل.
-ادغار يقوم بقلب الطاولة هنا، فهو لا يدقق بالتفاصيل الصغيرة لمعرفة مكان الرسالة، بل يقرأ او يرى الصورة بشكل اوسع ليكتشف ان اهم مكان لتخبئتها هو المكان الواضح الذي لن يبحث فيه احد.
-الخاتمة المفتوحة على جميع الإحتمالات، حسب مخيلة كل قارئ، كانت ممتازة ايضاً.
-ادغار يقوم بقلب الطاولة هنا، فهو لا يدقق بالتفاصيل الصغيرة لمعرفة مكان الرسالة، بل يقرأ او يرى الصورة بشكل اوسع ليكتشف ان اهم مكان لتخبئتها هو المكان الواضح الذي لن يبحث فيه احد.
-الخاتمة المفتوحة على جميع الإحتمالات، حسب مخيلة كل قارئ، كانت ممتازة ايضاً.
May 9, 2017
Making even the solitary molecules, or paired, frightened to the zenith so that they react in a chaotic demeanor, disrupting, terrible in elegance of expression and the redundancy of repression-- it's far too much for me, the mere proletariat with a reader's proclivity, to possibly endorse in the wholehearted method bestowed upon the gargantuan wave of Poe fanatics. The tale of the excessively (deceptively) obvious and bluff and double bluffs that go along with it (and the poker faces utilized and the overanalyzations) was a more pleasurable experience when viewed as an episode on the children's program "Wishbone."
January 5, 2020
The Purloined Letter has been always one of my favorites. Without anything bloody or spooky, it is mysterious and entertaining.
Monsieur G—, the prefect of the Paris police arrives to Monsieur Dupin and asks for his help in a case he has made no progress so far. Dupin suggests him to continue to search the letter in question.
One month later the prefect in sheer desperation comes to Dupin again, document still missing. Dupin surprises him presenting the letter. After Monsieur G— leaves, Dupin reveals to his friend, the narrator, how he got the letter back.
Poe’s irony is remarkable here, as Dupin explains and ridicules the Parisian police’s investigator methods, and points out that people tend not to see the obvious.
Dupin’s method is based on not perseverance and thoroughness but on logic, practical wit, and identifying himself with the criminal.
Monsieur G—, the prefect of the Paris police arrives to Monsieur Dupin and asks for his help in a case he has made no progress so far. Dupin suggests him to continue to search the letter in question.
"If it is any point requiring reflection," observed Dupin, as he forebore to enkindle the wick, "we shall examine it to better purpose in the dark."
"That is another of your odd notions," said the Prefect, who had the fashion of calling everything "odd" that was beyond his comprehension, and thus lived amid an absolute legion of "oddities."
One month later the prefect in sheer desperation comes to Dupin again, document still missing. Dupin surprises him presenting the letter. After Monsieur G— leaves, Dupin reveals to his friend, the narrator, how he got the letter back.
This functionary grasped it in a perfect agony of joy, opened it with a trembling hand, cast a rapid glance at its contents, and then, scrambling and struggling to the door, rushed at length unceremoniously from the room and from the house.
Poe’s irony is remarkable here, as Dupin explains and ridicules the Parisian police’s investigator methods, and points out that people tend not to see the obvious.
Dupin’s method is based on not perseverance and thoroughness but on logic, practical wit, and identifying himself with the criminal.
Nil sapientiae odiosius acumine nimio.
----- Nothing is more hateful to wisdom than excessive cleverness.
December 16, 2025
جذابیت این قصه کوتاه در این است که گاهی بعضی معماها از بس ساده اند پیچیده است و این یکی از مولفه های پر تکرار در داستان های معمایی شد
هفتاد هشتاد سال بعد خانم کریستی در بعضی کتاب هایش وادار میکرد هرکول پوآرو به دوستش رو کند و فریاد بزند: « من احمق بودم هستینگز یک احمق به تمام معنا »😂
و اینگونه است که جناب پو پیشکسوت این ژانر شد
هفتاد هشتاد سال بعد خانم کریستی در بعضی کتاب هایش وادار میکرد هرکول پوآرو به دوستش رو کند و فریاد بزند: « من احمق بودم هستینگز یک احمق به تمام معنا »😂
و اینگونه است که جناب پو پیشکسوت این ژانر شد
October 14, 2015
Eh. Not my favourite of Poe's works by far, but I do respect it as a departure from his typical style and subject matter. The real reason I didn't like this is because it's almost entirely dialogue, and for a story that could have been interesting, 95% of it is spent rambling on about algebra and metaphysics.
April 10, 2022
A royal letter is stolen and although the police know who is responsible and the house in which it is hidden, even the most thorough searches finds nothing. It takes our master detective to solve the mystery. An odd little story that has given birth to whole book of philosophical articles. I didn’t expect to enjoy it but was actually stimulated by it. It’s Poe, and if you like Poe, you will probably like this.
January 1, 2014
When you consider the fact that detective fiction didn't exist when Poe wrote this story, it's pretty amazing. Two characters are smoking together one evening when a police official shows up with an intriguing mystery--a compromising letter has been stolen from a person of importance, and although the police know the thief's identify, they can't seem to find the letter anywhere. The policeman leaves without a solution to his problem, but by the next time he stops by, the mystery has already been solved.
I hadn't read any of Poe's work in this area before (though I quite like his other stuff). This story struck me as reminiscent of Sherlock Homes in its emphasis on reasoning and consideration of the perpetrator--except that The Purloined Letter was written decades before, of course. It's a quick, interesting read. Recommended to all, particularly those who may have been scared away from Poe's reputation for dealing primarily in horror and to those who think that poets are smarter than mathematicians.
I hadn't read any of Poe's work in this area before (though I quite like his other stuff). This story struck me as reminiscent of Sherlock Homes in its emphasis on reasoning and consideration of the perpetrator--except that The Purloined Letter was written decades before, of course. It's a quick, interesting read. Recommended to all, particularly those who may have been scared away from Poe's reputation for dealing primarily in horror and to those who think that poets are smarter than mathematicians.
October 6, 2022
Poe considered himself a poet first and foremost; he believed, as did most of his contemporaries, that poetry was the highest form of the literary arts. By the age of twenty-two, Poe had published three editions collections of his poetry: Tamerlane and Other Poems (1827), Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems (1829), and Poems (1831). https://rmc.library.cornell.edu/poe/e.... So when you see these lines within Poe's short story "Not altogether a fool," said G., "but then he's a poet, which I take to be only one remove from a fool. True, said Dupin, after a long and thoughtful whiff from his meerschaum, "although I have been guilty of certain doggrel myself." and considering that Poe himself is author of these lines you can see just how ironic and doggerel (modern version of spelling) Poe as a writer could be. When Poe tries to identify with the criminal and to "think like he would." he enters into another groundbreaking technique not only for crime solving detective novels but also the tools used by modern day criminal profilers, the real life psychological sleuths of today who try to analyze the criminal through his behavior patterns. Poe who had a love and passion for mathematics loved logic and used it in his writing to foster a progeny of writers to follow. If Poe had lived (I know, I know the what if? game, but just humor me for a moment) and his realization that the public really liked this new crime solving technique of a detective using his "little grey cells" as Christie's Piorot later did to solve a crime he may have given us more of C. Auguste Dupin. Well as we all know fate stepped in and we lost his talent forever but we do so cherish what he did leave us.
October 30, 2012
The Purloined Letter is a clean departure from my initial expectation of Edgar Allan Poe's works. I thought that all of his works were macabre and grotesque. This one is similar to the short stories of Sherlock Holmes. I have read the whole SH canon and I thought that there were so many similarities.
Wiki says that there are three of these detective stories starring his private detective C. Auguste Dupin. Just like Holmes, Dupin is more intelligent than the police investigators. However, Dupin's style is more of common sense, "look where you would not have thought of putting it (the letter)" which is too simplistic compared to the power of deduction that Holmes employs. Also, Dupin has an unnamed narrator here (and also in the two other stories) while Holmes has Watson, the doctor, to do most of the storytelling for him.
Compared to the other detective story by him that I've read, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, the story in "Purloined" does not have anything gory. There is no death with head almost severed from the body. There is no killing by an animal. Rather, the game here in in the head. The anticipation that goes in the mind of Dupin and the thief of the purloined letter called Minister D-. Dupin likens this to two boys playing where one boy hides say the dice and let the other one guess. If the guess is right, the other boy gets to choose which of his toy he'd like to take for himself. The key, according to Dupin, is to look at the boy's facial expression. It's as simple as that and sometimes we neglect to take note of people's facial expressions.
Overall, I liked this book. It's just that I expected every EAP work to have some eerie scenes in time for this Halloween season. I never knew that he also did some Conan-Doyle kind of stuff.
Wiki says that there are three of these detective stories starring his private detective C. Auguste Dupin. Just like Holmes, Dupin is more intelligent than the police investigators. However, Dupin's style is more of common sense, "look where you would not have thought of putting it (the letter)" which is too simplistic compared to the power of deduction that Holmes employs. Also, Dupin has an unnamed narrator here (and also in the two other stories) while Holmes has Watson, the doctor, to do most of the storytelling for him.
Compared to the other detective story by him that I've read, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, the story in "Purloined" does not have anything gory. There is no death with head almost severed from the body. There is no killing by an animal. Rather, the game here in in the head. The anticipation that goes in the mind of Dupin and the thief of the purloined letter called Minister D-. Dupin likens this to two boys playing where one boy hides say the dice and let the other one guess. If the guess is right, the other boy gets to choose which of his toy he'd like to take for himself. The key, according to Dupin, is to look at the boy's facial expression. It's as simple as that and sometimes we neglect to take note of people's facial expressions.
Overall, I liked this book. It's just that I expected every EAP work to have some eerie scenes in time for this Halloween season. I never knew that he also did some Conan-Doyle kind of stuff.
July 15, 2021
3 Stars. I read "The Purloined Letter" in a collection of fifteen stories, "The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Tales." The 1960 edition. Poe's 18 page story first appeared in 1844 and features private detective C. Auguste Dupin in Paris. The three Dupin stories are precursors to the modern detective mystery. Four concepts come to mind: the brilliant amateur with whom the police consult, a companion who records the details, a devious criminal, and a proper analysis of the case being crucial - ratiocination is what Poe calls it. What's missing? The eccentricity of Holmes or Poirot for one! Parts are convoluted, rambling and tedious as if the author wants to demonstrate his analytical thinking and ability to use French, Latin and classic references. It can be fun; you will be amused as Poe takes a shot at poets! His "Raven" was still to come. In a smoke-filled library, Dupin is visited by the Prefect of Police. A private letter has been stolen belonging to the Queen. From a lover, or at least a close admirer! She is desperate. The Prefect knows the thief is an unscrupulous Cabinet Minister, but search as he does, he cannot find it. So, consult Dupin! (July 2020)
July 7, 2020
مغامرة اخرى مع المحقق " أوجست دوبين " و فى هذا العمل القصير و الاخير له كان من الواضح بعض الصفات المشتركة بينه و بين المحقق الاشهر شيرلوك هولمز .
تأثر آرثر كونان دويل كان اكثر من تاثر فقط بشخصية المحقق الخاص , لكن طريقة التحليل ايضا للمحقيقن قريبة و ايضاً الضغينة لا ينسوها , ف المحقق دوبين قبل المهمة هذة المرة مقابل مبلغ نقدى و لكن لينتقم من الوزير السارق ايضاً بسبب مواجهة سابقة .
قصة قصيرة متواضعة و لكن نهايتها كلاسيكية بامتياز :)
تأثر آرثر كونان دويل كان اكثر من تاثر فقط بشخصية المحقق الخاص , لكن طريقة التحليل ايضا للمحقيقن قريبة و ايضاً الضغينة لا ينسوها , ف المحقق دوبين قبل المهمة هذة المرة مقابل مبلغ نقدى و لكن لينتقم من الوزير السارق ايضاً بسبب مواجهة سابقة .
قصة قصيرة متواضعة و لكن نهايتها كلاسيكية بامتياز :)
November 15, 2015
"Perhaps it is the very simplicity of the thing which puts you at fault."
Compared to the works of Arthur Conan Doyle, this was one I knew I couldn't possibly miss. I could see some similarities, but naturally, Sherlock was sorely missed. In his place, Poe's writing was an adequate replacement. The story was not full of any action; however, it was a recollection of the search that was conducted for the 'purloined letter' and the reasoning that sometimes what you're looking for is right under your nose all along.
"It is merely," I said, "an identification of the reasoner's intellect with that of his opponent."
Compared to the works of Arthur Conan Doyle, this was one I knew I couldn't possibly miss. I could see some similarities, but naturally, Sherlock was sorely missed. In his place, Poe's writing was an adequate replacement. The story was not full of any action; however, it was a recollection of the search that was conducted for the 'purloined letter' and the reasoning that sometimes what you're looking for is right under your nose all along.
"It is merely," I said, "an identification of the reasoner's intellect with that of his opponent."
January 19, 2025
Als Hörbuch gehört.
Habe es für Lacans Seminar „über der gestohlene Brief“ aus seinen Schriften 1 gehört.
Seine Fragestellung:
Wie lösen sich die Subjekte in ihrer Verschiebung im Verlauf der intersubjektiven Wiederholung ab?
Schreibe mehr dazu, sobald ich das Seminar beendet habe.
Keine 5 da mir der Lehrstückcharakter zu dominant hervorsticht.
Mag die geschraubt, gekünstelte, vornehme Art nicht sonderlich 😏
Habe es für Lacans Seminar „über der gestohlene Brief“ aus seinen Schriften 1 gehört.
Seine Fragestellung:
Wie lösen sich die Subjekte in ihrer Verschiebung im Verlauf der intersubjektiven Wiederholung ab?
Schreibe mehr dazu, sobald ich das Seminar beendet habe.
Keine 5 da mir der Lehrstückcharakter zu dominant hervorsticht.
Mag die geschraubt, gekünstelte, vornehme Art nicht sonderlich 😏
October 8, 2020
Ingenious and surprisingly (after five other tales by Poe) unbloody :)
Indeed, Sherlock owes much to Dupin.
Indeed, Sherlock owes much to Dupin.
December 6, 2018
A Case of Blackmail
6 December 2018
There are a number of interesting factors to this story. It is the third of the Dupin stories and this one deals with a letter that has been stolen. Basically, the letter contains some compromising information and the thief is now using it as a form of black mail. Well, Dupin comes along and notices that the police have simply not been able to find the letter, despite searching every inch of the apartment. As it turns out, the thief used a trick known as hiding something in plain sight. Since the thief knew that the police would go over his apartment with a fine tooth comb, he put the letter where he knew they wouldn’t look, and that is basically in a place that the police would never believe that the thief would hide it.
It is interesting that the whole concept of the magnifying glass appears in this story, and this is another thing that has come down through detective fiction, most notably in Sherlock Holmes. The funny thing is that as far as I can tell, the magnifying glass is really only something that seems to be connected with Sherlock. Mind you, Dupin, who had worked out where it was hidden quite quickly, and then visited the place and confirmed that that was indeed where the letter was hidden, didn’t need to use a magnifying glass.
I didn’t find this story to be anywhere near as great as the other two, but I still give it credit for setting the stage of a genre that would eventually branch out on its own. In a way it doesn’t seem to be anywhere near as dark as some of his other writings, and in fact seems to be somewhat more light hearted. Well, not quite, but having already produced two previous works, it is clear that Poe is basically refining the style, even though he never followed through with any more similar stories.
I guess Dupin, as I have mentioned previously, also sets the scene for that highly intelligent detective that is not only outsmarting the police, but also outsmarting the villains. Actually, one interesting thing that I have noticed is how the Holmes stories seem to follow the same style as this one. Basically, the story is divided into two parts – the first part sets the scene, and in the middle we have the moment where Dupin tells us that he has solved the case, and once all of the police have gone, he then proceeds to explain to us how it is that he actually solved the case. This is a style that Doyle used extensively in his many Sherlock Holmes adventures, and due to the popularity of said adventures, no doubt this is a structure that not only worked, but worked well.
6 December 2018
There are a number of interesting factors to this story. It is the third of the Dupin stories and this one deals with a letter that has been stolen. Basically, the letter contains some compromising information and the thief is now using it as a form of black mail. Well, Dupin comes along and notices that the police have simply not been able to find the letter, despite searching every inch of the apartment. As it turns out, the thief used a trick known as hiding something in plain sight. Since the thief knew that the police would go over his apartment with a fine tooth comb, he put the letter where he knew they wouldn’t look, and that is basically in a place that the police would never believe that the thief would hide it.
It is interesting that the whole concept of the magnifying glass appears in this story, and this is another thing that has come down through detective fiction, most notably in Sherlock Holmes. The funny thing is that as far as I can tell, the magnifying glass is really only something that seems to be connected with Sherlock. Mind you, Dupin, who had worked out where it was hidden quite quickly, and then visited the place and confirmed that that was indeed where the letter was hidden, didn’t need to use a magnifying glass.
I didn’t find this story to be anywhere near as great as the other two, but I still give it credit for setting the stage of a genre that would eventually branch out on its own. In a way it doesn’t seem to be anywhere near as dark as some of his other writings, and in fact seems to be somewhat more light hearted. Well, not quite, but having already produced two previous works, it is clear that Poe is basically refining the style, even though he never followed through with any more similar stories.
I guess Dupin, as I have mentioned previously, also sets the scene for that highly intelligent detective that is not only outsmarting the police, but also outsmarting the villains. Actually, one interesting thing that I have noticed is how the Holmes stories seem to follow the same style as this one. Basically, the story is divided into two parts – the first part sets the scene, and in the middle we have the moment where Dupin tells us that he has solved the case, and once all of the police have gone, he then proceeds to explain to us how it is that he actually solved the case. This is a style that Doyle used extensively in his many Sherlock Holmes adventures, and due to the popularity of said adventures, no doubt this is a structure that not only worked, but worked well.
October 23, 2023
This is the third of a series about the detective C. Auguste Dupin. He was a detective before the word came into existence!! This series is considered to be an important early forerunner of the modern detective story.
A letter from the queen's lover has been stolen from her boudoir by the unscrupulous Minister D—. In this narrated story, Dupin finds the letter in plain sight, after the police have scrupously looked in every crevice of the house. Ah, what a smart and clever man this Dupin is.
I have not read the first two in the series. May go back some day.
3 stars
I have now determined I am not a big fan of Poe. Having written in the mid 1800's, his style is one with which I feel uncomfortable.
A letter from the queen's lover has been stolen from her boudoir by the unscrupulous Minister D—. In this narrated story, Dupin finds the letter in plain sight, after the police have scrupously looked in every crevice of the house. Ah, what a smart and clever man this Dupin is.
I have not read the first two in the series. May go back some day.
3 stars
I have now determined I am not a big fan of Poe. Having written in the mid 1800's, his style is one with which I feel uncomfortable.
January 19, 2016
Complexă psihologie poliţienească alături de (aproape miticul) Auguste Dupin.
"... matematicianul argumentează cu adevărurile lui finite."
"... matematicianul argumentează cu adevărurile lui finite."
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