Chapter 1

NOTES TO THE THIRD VOLUME

LIGEIA
MORELLA
A TALE OF THE RAGGED MOUNTAINS
THE SPECTACLES
KING PEST
THREE SUNDAYS IN A WEEK

NARRATIVE OF A. GORDON PYM

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

Upon my return to the United States a few months ago, after the
extraordinary series of adventure in the South Seas and
elsewhere, of which an account is given in the following pages,
accident threw me into the society of several gentlemen in
Richmond, Va., who felt deep interest in all matters relating to
the regions I had visited, and who were constantly urging it upon
me, as a duty, to give my narrative to the public. I had several
reasons, however, for declining to do so, some of which were of a
nature altogether private, and concern no person but myself;
others not so much so. One consideration which deterred me was
that, having kept no journal during a greater portion of the time
in which I was absent, I feared I should not be able to write,
from mere memory, a statement so minute and connected as to have
the _appearance_of that truth it would really possess, barring
only the natural and unavoidable exaggeration to which all of us
are prone when detailing events which have had powerful influence
in exciting the imaginative faculties. Another reason was, that
the incidents to be narrated were of a nature so positively
marvellous that, unsupported as my assertions must necessarily be
(except by the evidence of a single individual, and he a
half-breed Indian), I could only hope for belief among my family,
and those of my friends who have had reason, through life, to put
faith in my veracity—the probability being that the public at
large would regard what I should put forth as merely an impudent
and ingenious fiction. A distrust in my own abilities as a writer
was, nevertheless, one of the principal causes which prevented me
from complying with the suggestions of my advisers.

Among those gentlemen in Virginia who expressed the greatest
interest in my statement, more particularly in regard to that
portion of it which related to the Antarctic Ocean, was Mr. Poe,
lately editor of the “Southern Literary Messenger,” a monthly
magazine, published by Mr. Thomas W. White, in the city of
Richmond. He strongly advised me, among others, to prepare at
once a full account of what I had seen and undergone, and trust
to the shrewdness and common-sense of the public—insisting, with
great plausibility, that however roughly, as regards mere
authorship, my book should be got up, its very uncouthness, if
there were any, would give it all the better chance of being
received as truth.

Notwithstanding this representation, I did not make up my mind to
do as he suggested. He afterward proposed (finding that I would
not stir in the matter) that I should allow him to draw up, in
his own words, a narrative of the earlier portion of my
adventures, from facts afforded by myself, publishing it in the
“Southern Messenger” _under the garb of fiction. _To this,
perceiving no objection, I consented, stipulating only that my
real name should be retained. Two numbers of the pretended
fiction appeared, consequently, in the “Messenger” for January
and February (1837), and, in order that it might certainly be
regarded as fiction, the name of Mr. Poe was affixed to the
articles in the table of contents of the magazine.

The manner in which this ruse was received has induced me at
length to undertake a regular compilation and publication of the
adventures in question; for I found that, in spite of the air of
fable which had been so ingeniously thrown around that portion of
my statement which appeared in the “Messenger” (without altering
or distorting a single fact), the public were still not at all
disposed to receive it as fable, and several letters were sent to
Mr. P.’s address, distinctly expressing a conviction to the
contrary. I thence concluded that the facts of my narrative would
prove of such a nature as to carry with them sufficient evidence
of their own authenticity, and that I had consequently little to
fear on the score of popular incredulity.

This _exposé_being made, it will be seen at once how much of what
follows I claim to be my own writing; and it will also be
understood that no fact is misrepresented in the first few pages
which were written by Mr. Poe. Even to those readers who have not
seen the “Messenger,” it will be unnecessary to point out where
his portion ends and my own commences; the difference in point of
style will be readily perceived.

A. G. PYM.