First published in 1799, Charles Brockden Brown’s “Edgar Huntly, Or, Memoirs of a Sleep Walker” is the story of its title character, who upon learning of the death of the brother of his friend and love interest, Mary Waldegrave, visits where he died in the woods in rural Pennsylvania. There he discovers a man, Clithero, a servant from a nearby farm, suspiciously lurking about near the scene of Waldegrave’s murder. Suspecting Clithero, Edgar begins investigating the matter and is soon obsessed with Clithero and his secret, violent past in Ireland. While attempting to find the truth of his friend’s murder, Edgar is unwittingly drawn into a dangerous and strange mystery involving people sleepwalking, a dark and frightening cave, and a brutal native tribe. Considered an early example of the American gothic novel, “Edgar Huntly” is rich in suspense, evocative imagery, an unreliable narrator, and a surprise ending. Brown’s novel has endured as a gripping and suspenseful tale rich with the detail of 18th century America and remains an entertaining mystery which will keep readers guessing until the very end.
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