検索キーワード： "Edgar Allan Poe" 選集・短編小説

"The Balloon-Hoax" is the title used in collections and anthologies of a newspaper article by American writer Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1844 in The Sun newspaper in New York. Originally presented as a true story, it detailed European Monck Mason's trip across the Atlantic Ocean in only three days in a gas balloon. It was later revealed as a hoax and the story was retracted two days later.

The Colloquy Of Monos And Una: Una. "Born again?" Monos. Yes, fairest and best beloved Una, "born again." These were the words upon whose mystical meaning I had so long pondered, rejecting the explanations of the priesthood, until Death himself resolved for me the secret. Una. Death! Monos. How strangely, sweet Una, you echo my words! I observe, too, a vacillation in your step — a joyous inquietude in your eyes. You are confused and oppressed by the majestic novelty of the Life Eternal. Yes, it was of Death I spoke.

"The Spectacles" is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in March 1844 in the Philadelphia Dollar Newspaper. It is one of Poe's comedy tales. The narrator, 22-year-old Napoleon Buonaparte Froissart, changes his last name to "Simpson" as a requirement to inherit a large sum from a distant cousin, Adolphus Simpson. At the opera he sees a beautiful woman in the audience and falls in love instantly. He describes her beauty at length, despite not being able to see her well; he requires spectacles but, in his vanity, "resolutely refused to employ them".

The Balloon-Hoax is a thrilling early example of literary sensationalism from Edgar Allan Poe, blending sharp scientific detail with masterful suspense. First published as a convincing newspaper report, the story chronicles a transatlantic balloon voyage that captivates the public—until the shocking truth emerges. With its blend of realism, imagination, and sly satire, this inventive tale showcases Poe’s genius for blurring the line between fact and fiction, making it a fascinating read for fans of classic suspense, speculative fiction, and literary history.