Chapter V. Edgar Poe’s Romance

           InthischapterIhavetogiveabriefsummaryofEdgarPoe’sromance,whichwaspublishedatRichmondunderthetitleof

           THEADVENTURESOFARTHURGORDONPYM.

           Weshallseewhethertherewasanyroomfordoubtthattheadventuresofthisheroofromancewereimaginary.Butindeed,amongthemultitudeofPoe’sreaders,wasthereeverone,withthesoleexceptionofLenGuy,whobelievedthemtobereal?Thestoryistoldbytheprincipalpersonage.ArthurPymstatesintheprefacethatonhisreturnfromhisvoyagetotheAntarcticseashemet,amongtheVirginiangentlemenwhotookaninterestingeographicaldiscoveries,EdgarPoe,whowastheneditoroftheSouthernLiteraryMessengeratRichmond,andthatheauthorizedthelattertopublishthefirstpartofhisadventuresinthatjournal“underthecloakoffiction.”Thatportionhavingbeenfavourablyreceived,avolumecontainingthecompletenarrativewasissuedwiththesignatureofEdgarPoe.

           ArthurGordonPymwasbornatNantucket,whereheattendedtheBedfordSchooluntilhewassixteenyearsold.HavingleftthatschoolforMr.Ronald’s,heformedafriendshipwithoneAugustusBarnard,thesonofaship’scaptain.Thisyouth,whowaseighteen,hadalreadyaccompaniedhisfatheronawhalingexpeditioninthesouthernseas,andhisyarnsconcerningthatmaritimeadventurefiredtheimaginationofArthurPym.