The man of the crowd- Reviewed by María C. & Nina Prado- C1 EOi Málaga

THE MAN OF THE CROWD
Recorded by Maria C. & Nina Prado

Speaker A: We welcome you to the EOI Malaga Radio Channel.
Today we have the pleasure of presenting you a review of one of the short stories written by the important and well known American poet and writer Edgar Allan Poe. Nina, could you tell our listeners what story we are talking about?

Speaker B: Yes, of course. It is “The Man of The Crowd”, an amazing short story, full of mystery, an ideal opportunity to enter Poe's complex and imaginary universe.

Speaker A: Edgar Allan Poe is a very important writer in the history of literature, I guess. He is recognized as the inventor of the modern detective story, isn't he?

Speaker B: Yes, in fact, “The Man of The Crowd”, which was published in 1840, is considered to be the prelude to the first detective story he wrote just one year later, called “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”.

Speaker A: Apparently, “The Man of The Crowd” is about a man who is sitting in a Coffe-House in London watching people go by.

Speaker B: Exactly. He is just recovering from a long illness and is enjoying outdoors life. London at that point of time was with great difference the biggest city of the world with a massive population which is classified and described by the man in the Coffe-House with such an extraordinary detail that you almost feel being part of the story, sitting next to him, and watching all these individuals with the same curiosity that he does.

Speaker A: So, you don't believe that Poe, being an American, choses Britain's capital city just by coincidence for this story.

Speaker B: I'm sure that he chooses London on purpose as it is the prototype of the modern city that emerges from industrial revolution.

Speaker A: I agree with you completely. So, there we have this main character, who is the narrator of the story, “The Coffee-House-Man” who let us see through his eyes the people go by during the afternoon. But Nina, is that all?

Speaker B: No, it isn’t Maria. Suddenly, out of the crowd, an old man arouses his interest so much, that he is compelled to follow him the whole night and the following day up until the afternoon without a pause, because he cannot give up to the necessity of finding out what his secret is.

Speaker A: I would rather say that the narrator not only follows the mysterious old man who wonders restless through London town, he much more chases him with an almost insane obsession. Don't you think so?

Speaker B: Well, as a matter of fact, we could divide the story in two parts. The first one consists merely in sitting and observing people, i.e. a psychological observation of them, whereas in the second part the action emerges as soon as the main character chases the old man who wanders all along the city.

Speaker A: And I think it is really exciting because the rhythm in the second part keeps changing constantly. When you believe that the persecution has reached its top point it gets even more frenetic, then it slows down, and so on.

Speaker B: That's right. It's exhausting. Edgar Allan Poe is a master. He uses a very rich vocabulary and links the ideas together brilliantly, so that the reader can live every single moment of the story just the same way as the main character.

Speaker A: But this is not all, is it? What makes this short story so special? What about the first paragraph? What would YOU say about it?

Speaker B: I must admit it is kind of weird. There you have the obvious plot, which is what we have been talking about, but if you take into consideration the introduction, the story acquires multiple possible readings and so, the mystery is served. But then, of course, we could not expect less from Poe, could we?

Speaker A: Yes indeed, Poe, the master of mystery has served us in “The Man of the Crowd” with an enigma. Will we be able to find it out?

Speaker B: At the beginning of the story Poe quotes La Bruyere, who is a French writer, “Ce grand malheur de en pouvour etre seul”. What do you think it means, Maria?

Speaker A: With this Poe refers to the constant search of companion the 19th century men experienced, men who want to know everything, even the unknown, even that knowledge that does not permit itself to be unveiled.

Speaker B: But still this is not enough to solve the enigma. If you want to find out, dear listener, you will have to read the whole story.

Speaker A: Oh, Nina. I believe it is going to be a very nice challenge. Enjoy!