Mystification by Edgar Allan Poe (1837): A Review

Title: Mystification

Author: Edgar Allan Poe

Publication Year: 1837, June

Pages: 11

Rating: ⭐⭐

Genre: Satire

Source: eBook and audiobook @storytel.tr

Opening Sentence: The Baron Ritzner von Jung was a noble Hungarian family, every member of which (at least as far back into antiquity as any certain records extend) was more or less remarkable for talent of some description — the majority for that species of grotesquerie in conception of which Tieck, a scion of the house, has given a vivid, although by no means the most vivid exemplifications.

Edgar Allan Poe's "Mystification" bursts onto the scene as an exhilarating satirical tale, where the absurd world of dueling is placed under a hilarious microscope! Set against the backdrop of a quirky German university, the story introduces us to the enigmatic Baron Ritzner Von Jung—a brilliant and eccentric figure known for his uncanny ability to outsmart his peers with his ingenious tricks, dubbed "art mystifique."

The plot ignites when the arrogant and hot-headed Johann Hermann, an ardent defender of the dueling code, challenges the Baron after a fiery debate about the so-called "duello." But here's the twist: while Hermann thrives on the culture of dueling, the clever Baron secretly loathes it. In a clever twist of fate, he decides to turn the tables and teach Hermann a lesson he won't soon forget!

"Mystification" is more than just a comic narrative; it's a thrilling exploration of Poe's fascination with cryptography and the art of secret writing. It brilliantly exposes the ludicrous nature of dueling culture and offers a sharp commentary on how even those who seem learned can be easily misled by flowery language and grandiloquent posturing.

Despite all this, it is boringly absurd story! I warned you!