The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar

The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar, was taken to be factual upon its publication in 1845. This short story by American author Edgar Allan Poe is about a hypnotist whose subject is a man on death's doorstep. Full of real suspense and horror, Poe played along with the idea that the story was real for a time before admitting it was a work of pure fiction. The story is notable for a relatively high level of gore and medical detail.