" The Murders in the Rue Morgue " is a short story by Edgar Allan Poe published in Graham's Magazine in 1841. It has been described as the first modern detective story ; Poe referred to it as one of his "tales of ratiocination ".
96-484: Rue Morgue may refer to: " The Murders in the Rue Morgue ", a short story by Edgar Allan Poe Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932 film) , a 1932 film based on the story Murders in the Rue Morgue (1971 film) , a 1971 film "Murders in the Rue Morgue", a song from 1981 Iron Maiden album Killers The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1986 film) Rue Morgue (magazine) ,
192-661: A blade that can fold into its handle. They are also called open razors and cut-throat razors . The predecessors of the modern straight razors include bronze razors, with cutting edges and fixed handles, produced by craftsmen from Ancient Egypt during the New Kingdom (1569 — 1081 BC). Solid gold and copper razors were also found in Ancient Egyptian tombs dating back to the 4th millennium BC. The first steel-edged cutthroat razors were manufactured in Sheffield in 1680. By
288-585: A French point blade is usually flat ground. A hollow grind produces a thinner blade than the flat grind because it removes more material from the blade ( hollows or thins the blade more). The hollow-ground blade flexes more easily and provides more feedback on the resistance the blade meets while cutting the hair, which is an indicator of blade sharpness. Hollow-ground blades are preferred by most barbers and some high-end razor manufacturers limit their production exclusively to hollow ground razors. The third and final category refers to blade width. The width of
384-537: A better value and more efficient product. Dovo [ de ] in Germany reports that since a production low of less than 8,000 units per year in 2006, the company sells 3,000 units per month, and has 110,000 orders with production lead time of three years. The Dovo spokesman commented that around 2006, “we were producing less than 8,000 straight razors per year, The tradition of straight razor manufacturing had almost come to an end.” Dovo explains, that after
480-547: A compromise, to the back of the blade while the mirror finish and gold leafing are applied to the more visible front of the blade. This way the blade will not be as expensive as a fully mirror finished one. Metal plating , using nickel or silver, is also used, but it is not preferred; the plating eventually erodes through use, revealing the underlying metal, which is often of inferior quality. Nickel-plated blades are very difficult to hone repeatedly and are made for mainly aesthetic reasons though lacking functionality. The blade
576-429: A few are found with thin metal scales or wooden scales. The blade material is usually a high carbon steel or a stainless steel. Traditionally, carbon steel was used, but stainless steels are popular in modern times due to the ease of maintenance. The parts of a straight razor and their function are described as follows: the narrow end of the blade rotates on a pin called the pivot, between two protective pieces called
672-434: A flat ground blade, since by definition is not hollow (curved) at all, is the most stable of the blades but because its cross sectional area is the largest it also feels heavier than hollow ground and this can affect the feel and balance of the razor. A razor is well balanced if when opened it balances about its pivot pin, indicating that the torques about the pivot point, caused by the corresponding weight distributions of
768-583: A horror magazine Rue Morgue Radio , a radio offshoot of the magazine Rue Morgue Festival of Fear , a Canadian horror convention Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Rue Morgue . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rue_Morgue&oldid=1223443356 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
864-420: A lengthy commentary on the nature and practice of analytical reasoning, then describes the circumstances under which he first met Dupin during a visit to Paris . The two share rooms in a dilapidated old mansion and allow no visitors, having cut off all contact with past acquaintances and venturing outside only at night. One evening, Dupin demonstrates his analytical prowess by deducing the narrator's thoughts about
960-403: A main character who performs similar feats of analysis, themselves borrowed from The Three Princes of Serendip , an Italian rendition of Amir Khusro 's " Hasht-Bihisht ". Poe may also have been expanding on previous analytical works of his own including the essay on " Maelzel's Chess Player " and the comedic "Three Sundays in a Week". As for the twist in the plot, Poe was likely inspired by
1056-399: A monetary reward from the owner of the orangutan. The revelation of the actual murderer removes the crime, as neither the orangutan nor its owner can be held responsible. Poe scholar Arthur Hobson Quinn speculates that later detective stories might have set up M. Le Bon, the suspect who is arrested, as appearing guilty as a red herring , though Poe chose not to. Poe wrote "The Murders in
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#17328485374721152-403: A new key. I do not mean to say that they are not ingenious – but people think them more ingenious than they are – on account of their method and air of method. In the "Murders in the Rue Morgue", for instance, where is the ingenuity in unraveling a web which you yourself... have woven for the express purpose of unraveling?" The word detective did not exist at the time Poe wrote "The Murders in
1248-486: A particular stage actor, based on clues gathered from the narrator's previous words and actions. Dupin and the narrator read the newspaper accounts of a baffling double murder. Madame L'Espanaye and her daughter Camille have been found dead at their home in the Rue Morgue, a fictional street in Paris. The mother was found in a yard behind the house, with multiple broken bones and her throat so deeply cut that her head fell off when
1344-578: A process he invented. Huntsman's process was adopted by the French sometime later, albeit reluctantly at first due to nationalist considerations. In England, razor manufacturers were even more reluctant than the French to adopt Huntsman's steel-making process and only did so after they saw its success in France. After their introduction in 1680, straight razors became the principal method of manual shaving for more than two hundred years, and remained in common use until
1440-481: A sailor arrives looking for it. The sailor offers a reward, but Dupin is interested only in learning the circumstances behind the two murders. The sailor explains that he captured the orangutan while in Borneo and brought it back to Paris, intending to sell it, but had trouble keeping it under control. When he saw the orangutan attempting to shave its face with his straight razor, imitating his morning grooming, it fled into
1536-458: A shape called the blank supplied by the steel manufacturer. The blank of the blade is produced by forging steel ingots or steel available in other forms such as wire, springs, etc.. After the blank is formed, the first step is to clean it using a heavy forge . The material used for open razors is steel with a minimum carbon content of 0.6%. This percentage of carbon content ensures optimum hardness, flexibility and resistance to wear. Following
1632-411: A smaller radius of curvature . These two beveled areas have different curvatures and in a well-made razor they transition seamlessly in the ridge (belly) and the cutting edge respectively. Sometimes there are three bevels. The ridge stabilizes the blade against torsional flexing in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis by acting as a lengthwise spine for the blade. The distance between
1728-527: A smaller initial investment, although they cost more over time . Despite its long-term advantages, the straight razor lost significant market share. As shaving became less intimidating and men began to shave themselves more, the demand for barbers providing straight razor shaves decreased. Since 2012, production of straight razors has increased multifold. Straight razor sales are increasing globally and manufacturers have difficulty satisfying demand. Straight razor sales are increasing because they are perceived as
1824-414: A standard straight razor is usually close to 3 inches of blade length, but this does vary. Blades are described by the depth from spine to edge, measured in eights of an inch. 3/8 is a very narrow razor mostly used for detail work, with 5/8 and 6/8 being the most commonly seen sizes. It is very rare to see old razors bigger than 8/8 however there are some out there at 10/8 or larger. The other major factor
1920-496: A wealthy landowner and industrialist, to ports in the Gulf of Finland , approximately 1200 miles (1931 km) from Sheffield. From there, these goods were probably sent to Finland and even Russia. By 1740, Benjamin Huntsman was making straight razors complete with decorated handles and hollow-ground blades made from cast steel, using a process he invented. Huntsman's process was adopted by
2016-488: Is a brittle material and can exhibit cracks after some use. Resin impregnated wooden handles are water resistant, do not deform and their weight complements the blade's to provide good overall balance for the razor. Snakewood, Brosimum guianense , is also suitable for long term and intensive use. The mechanical properties of bone make it a good handle material. Handles were once made of elephant ivory, but this has been discontinued, though fossil ivory, such as mammoth,
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#17328485374722112-455: Is a mystery where the 'monkey' did it, was not the kind of story you could do anymore". A 1986 television adaptation of the story was directed by Jeannot Szwarc and stars George C. Scott as Auguste Dupin . In the 2023 Netflix miniseries The Fall of the House of Usher , Auguste Dupin is reimagined as an Assistant United States Attorney . The third episode of the series is titled "Murder in
2208-406: Is called the heel . The endpoint of the cutting edge at the front of the blade, opposite to the heel , is called the toe . A thick strip of metal running transversely at the junction where the main blade attaches to the shank is called the stabiliser . The stabiliser can be double, single, or can be absent in some razor models. The first stabiliser is usually very narrow and thicker and runs at
2304-415: Is decorated by engraving or gold leafing depending on the price. Less expensive blades undergo an electrolytic black acid engraving process. For more expensive blades, gold leafing applied by hand is employed, following a traditional process. Sharpening is the final stage in the process. At first the blade is sharpened on a grinding wheel. Following that the blade can be honed by holding the blades against
2400-449: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages The Murders in the Rue Morgue C. Auguste Dupin is a man in Paris who solves the mystery of the brutal murder of two women. Numerous witnesses heard a suspect, though no one agrees on what language was spoken. At the murder scene, Dupin finds a hair that does not appear to be human. As
2496-452: Is difficult. The converse is true for soft-tempered blades. The characteristics of medium-tempered blades are in-between the two extremes. Carbon steel blades can reach a maximum hardness of 61 HRC on the Rockwell scale . Following the processes of hardening and tempering, the blanks are ground, according to the two fundamental blade cross sectional area profiles. Subsequent to grinding,
2592-418: Is not"). In a letter to friend Joseph Snodgrass, Poe said of "The Murders in the Rue Morgue", "its theme was the exercise of ingenuity in detecting a murderer". Dupin is not a professional detective; he decides to investigate the murders in the Rue Morgue for his personal amusement. He also has a desire for truth and to prove a falsely accused man innocent. His interests are not financial and he even declines
2688-702: Is prone to nicking the skin of an Inexperienced shaver. The "handle" on a straight razor is not a handle at all, but a protector to prevent the delicate edge being damaged when not in use, and to prevent accidental cuts from the sharp blade. Construction is in the form of two scales, held by the pivot pin through the tang, and pinned through a wedge at the other end. Scales are thin, as they must be flexible. Typical scales are 2–3 mm thick and usually made from some form of synthetic (nowadays usually acrylic, but on older razors celluloid, Bakelite, xylonite, and others are common), bone, horn, or ivory on older razors. Some cheaper razors had compressed leather scales, and
2784-522: Is reflected in the Edgar Awards , given annually by the Mystery Writers of America . "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" also established many tropes that would become common elements in mystery fiction: the eccentric but brilliant detective, the bumbling constabulary , the first-person narration by a close personal friend. Poe also portrays the police in an unsympathetic manner as a sort of foil to
2880-420: Is simply called the stabiliser (single or double) and indicates a hollow ground blade, since a flat ground blade is massive and stable enough to not need a stabiliser. A double stabiliser implies 1 ⁄ 1 (full) hollow ground blade. The stabiliser protects the blade from torsional bending in the transverse direction (transverse spine). In addition to the transverse stabiliser, a longitudinal stabiliser
2976-478: Is so demanding that a full 25% of the blades get rejected as not meeting standards. There is a tradeoff between stability and long term blade sharpness. A full hollow ground ( 1 ⁄ 1 ) blade can keep a very sharp edge even after a great number of honing cycles because of its high degree of hollowness but it is more susceptible to torsional bending because it is thinner. A partially hollow blade ( 1 ⁄ 2 or 1 ⁄ 4 for example) cannot sustain
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3072-410: Is sometimes created in the form of a ridge parallel to the cutting edge and the blade is ground in two areas or bevels , each with different degrees of hollowness or curvature ; the area between the back of the blade and the ridge is typically less hollow featuring a larger radius of curvature , also called the "belly", and the area between the ridge and the cutting edge which is more hollow i.e. with
3168-439: Is still sometimes used, and antique razors with ivory scales are occasionally found (it is illegal to kill elephants for their ivory, but it is legal to buy an ivory-handled razor made before 1989). The geometry of the blade can be categorised according to three factors: the blade width and weight, the shape of the profile of the point of the razor, and the type of grinding method used for the blade (as grinding method determines
3264-527: Is the point shape. The most common is the round or Dutch point, with the French point being fairly common. The square point is also known as an American point, and is more common on razors from the USA. There is also the Spanish point, Spike point, and Barber's Notch. Inexperienced users should use either the round point, or a razor with a muted toe (the very tip of the edge rounded slightly) as an unmuted square or spike
3360-408: The cutting edge . Finally the other free end of the blade, at the opposite end of the tang on the spine, is called the point and, sometimes, the head or the nose . There are usually two, but sometimes three, pins in the handle. The middle pin, if present, is plastic coated and is called the centre plug . Its function is to stabilise the sides of the handle so that they cannot be squeezed in
3456-423: The forging stage, a hole is drilled in the tang at the pivot point. This is a crucial step, since after the steel hardening process it would be impossible to drill. This process requires great skill. The steel is hardened through a special process where the forged steel blade is heated up to approximately 760 °C (1,400 °F) depending on the specific steel. This heating enables fast and uniform heating of
3552-425: The prefect of police. Because none of the witnesses can agree on the language of the second voice, Dupin concludes they were not hearing a human voice at all. He and the narrator examine the house thoroughly; Dupin dismisses the idea of Le Bon's guilt and a robbery motive, citing the fact that the gold was not taken. He points out that the murderer would have had to have superhuman strength to force Camille's body up
3648-423: The scales or handle . The upward curved metal end of the narrow part of the blade beyond the pivot is called the tang and acts as a lever to help raise the blade from the handle. One or two fingers resting on the tang also help stabilize the blade while shaving. The narrow support piece between the tang and the main blade is called the shank , but this reference is often avoided because it can be confusing since
3744-401: The shank is also referred to as tang . The shank sometimes features decorations and the stamp of the brand. The top side and the underside of the shank can sometimes exhibit indentations known as fluting , or jimps for a more secure grip. The curved lower part of the main blade from the shank to the cutting edge is called the shoulder . The point where the shoulder joins the cutting edge
3840-421: The 2012 James Bond film Skyfall , sales of straight razors increased multifold, and that "built into a wave of sustained overdemand that we are still riding today". The increased sales have also led to an increase in the number of associated trades and artisans such as bladesmiths , leather craftsmen, and potters. The design of the straight razor is based on the grind of the blade, the width and length of
3936-584: The 4th millennium BC. The Roman historian Livy reported that the razor was introduced in ancient Rome in the 6th century BC by legendary king Lucius Tarquinius Priscus . Priscus was ahead of his time because razors did not come to general use until a century later. The first narrow-bladed folding straight razors were listed by a Sheffield, England manufacturer in 1680. By the late 1680s, early 1690s, razors with silver-covered handles along with other Sheffield-made products known as "Sheffield wares" were being exported by John Spencer (1655–1729) of Cannon Hall ,
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4032-526: The Crowd ", likely inspired by Poe's time living in Philadelphia . The tale has an underlying metaphor for the battle of brains vs. brawn. Physical strength, depicted as the orangutan as well as its owner, stand for violence: the orangutan is a murderer, while its owner admits he has abused the animal with a whip. The analyst's brainpower overcomes their violence. The story also contains Poe's often-used theme of
4128-528: The French sometime later; albeit reluctantly at first due to nationalist sentiments. The English manufacturers were even more reluctant than the French to adopt the process and only did so after they saw its success in France. Sheffield steel, a highly polished steel, also known as 'Sheffield silver steel' and famous for its deep gloss finish, is considered a superior quality steel and is still used to this day in France by such manufacturers as Thiers Issard . After their introduction in 1680, straight razors became
4224-399: The Rue Morgue" and features a character, Camille L'Espanaye, being killed by a chimpanzee in a medical testing facility nicknamed the "Rue Morgue". The story has also been adapted as a video game by Big Fish Games for their "Dark Tales" franchise, under the title "Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's Murders in the Rue Morgue". Straight razor A straight razor is a razor with
4320-404: The Rue Morgue" and its author were praised for the creation of a new profound novelty. The Pennsylvania Inquirer printed that "it proves Mr Poe to be a man of genius... with an inventive power and skill, of which we know no parallel". Poe, however, downplayed his achievement in a letter to Philip Pendleton Cooke : These tales of ratiocination owe most of their popularity to being something in
4416-470: The Rue Morgue" at a time when crime was at the forefront in people's minds due to urban development. London had recently established its first professional police force and American cities were beginning to focus on scientific police work as newspapers reported murders and criminal trials. "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" continues an urban theme that was used several times in Poe's fiction, in particular " The Man of
4512-486: The Rue Morgue" has been adapted into several films. At least four films of the early silent era borrowed from "The Murders in the Rue Morgue". One was Sherlock Holmes in the Great Murder Mystery (1908) in which an escaped gorilla attacks and kills a young woman in her home. In 1914 a film promoted as a three-reel "comedy-drama" titled The Phantom Thief involves a monkey stealing a pearl necklace. Other films from
4608-424: The Rue Morgue", though there were other stories that featured similar problem-solving characters. Das Fräulein von Scuderi (1819), by E. T. A. Hoffmann , in which Mlle. de Scuderi , a kind of 19th-century Miss Marple , establishes the innocence of the police's favorite suspect in the murder of a jeweler, is sometimes cited as the first detective story. Other forerunners include Voltaire 's Zadig (1748), with
4704-458: The Rue Morgue'", "The Mystery of Marie Rogêt" shares very few common elements with "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" beyond the inclusion of C. Auguste Dupin and the Paris setting. Dupin reappeared in " The Purloined Letter ", which Poe called "perhaps the best of my tales of ratiocination" in a letter to James Russell Lowell in July 1844. The original manuscript of "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" which
4800-419: The actor Chantilly. Dupin then applies his method to the solving of this crime. Dupin's method emphasizes the importance of reading and the written word. The newspaper accounts pique his curiosity; he learns about orangutans from a written account by "Cuvier" — likely Georges Cuvier , the French zoologist. This method also engages the reader, who follows along by reading the clues himself. Poe also emphasizes
4896-405: The blade is defined as the distance between the back of the blade and the cutting edge. It is expressed in units of eighth of an inch. The sizes vary from 3 ⁄ 8 in (9.5 mm) up to 7 ⁄ 8 in (22 mm), rarely 8 ⁄ 8 in (25 mm). A wider blade can carry more lather, much like a scoop, during multiple successive shaving strokes and thus it allows
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#17328485374724992-414: The blade is polished to various degrees of gloss. The finest finish, used in the most expensive razors, is the mirror finish. Mirror finish is the only finish used if gold leafing is to be part of the decoration of the blade. Satin finish requires less polishing time and therefore is not as expensive to produce. This finish is mostly used with black acid etching. Satin finish can sometimes be applied, as
5088-568: The blade, the handle, which also affects the balance of the razor, the material of the blade, and the finish and degree of polish of the blade material. Straight grinds range from true wedge, through near wedge, quarter hollow, half hollow, full hollow, and extra hollow. As the grind gets more hollowed, the blade becomes more flexible and the edge more delicate, making it shave closer but require more skill in sharpening and use, and reducing its suitability for heavy beards. Blades are usually categorised by grind, size, and blade shape. Sizing of
5184-408: The body was moved. Camille was found strangled to death and stuffed upside down into a chimney , wedged so tightly that it took the strength of several men to pull her loose. The murders occurred in a fourth-floor room that was locked from the inside; on the floor were found a bloody straight razor , bloody tufts of gray hair, and two bags of gold coins. Several witnesses reported hearing two voices at
5280-409: The chimney. He formulates a method by which the murderer could have entered the room and killed both women, involving an agile climb up a lightning rod and a leap to a set of open window shutters. Showing an unusual tuft of hair from the scene, Dupin concludes that an "Ourang-Outang" ( orangutan ) killed the women. He places an advertisement in the newspaper asking if anyone has lost such an animal, and
5376-551: The completion of Edgar Allan Poe's new grave monument in Baltimore, Maryland in 1875. "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" was one of the earliest of Poe's works to be translated into French. Between June 11 and June 13, 1846, a translation titled " Un meurtre sans exemple dans les Fastes de la Justice " was published in La Quotidienne , a Paris newspaper. It was signed "G. B.", with Poe's name not mentioned. Many details were changed;
5472-550: The crowd reaction to an orangutan on display at the Masonic Hall in Philadelphia in July 1839. Poe might have picked up some of the relevant biological knowledge from collaborating with Thomas Wyatt , with Poe furthermore linking "his narrative with the subject of evolution, especially the studies done by Cuvier", possibly also influenced by the studies conducted by Lord Monboddo , though it has been argued that Poe's information
5568-429: The cutting edge compared to the other grades. This is considered the most expensive blade. At the highest end of hollow ground, more hollow than even the 1 ⁄ 1 grade, is the so-called singing razor, so named because its blade produces a specific resonant tone when plucked, similar to a guitar string , however such use is not recommended as it can distort the cutting edge. Its manufacturing process
5664-404: The death of a beautiful woman , which he called the "most poetical topic in the world". Poe defines Dupin's method, ratiocination , using the example of a card player: "the extent of information obtained; lies not so much in the validity of the inference as in the quality of the observation". Poe then provides a narrative example where Dupin explains how he knew the narrator was thinking about
5760-432: The degree of curvature — and therefore hollowness, or thinness — of the sides of the cross section of the blade). Straight razors are, at first, categorised according to their blade profiles, from the head of the spine to the blade toe, based on their point, or nose, type. The following are the main types of blade profiles called points, or nose shapes: The second category refers to
5856-499: The detective. Poe also initiates the storytelling device where the detective announces his solution and then explains the reasoning leading up to it. It is also the first locked room mystery in detective fiction. On the other hand, unlike many detective stories that followed, Poe's story does not allow the reader to plausibly deduce the solution before it is revealed; the readers are unlikely to include an orangutan on their list of potential suspects. Upon its release, "The Murders in
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#17328485374725952-469: The era where an ape-like creature murders or is convicted of murder include Who Killed Olga Carew? (1913) and The Orang-Outang (1915). A film adaptation of the story came out in 1914 starring Paul Clemons. The film was later released as The Mystery of the Rue Morgue . Director Robert Florey first mentioned the story "Murders in the Rue Morgue" to Universal Studios in March 1930, at which time Dracula
6048-517: The first fictional detective, Poe's Dupin displays many traits which became literary conventions in subsequent fictional detectives, including Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot . Many later characters, for example, follow Poe's model of the brilliant detective, his personal friend who serves as narrator , and the final revelation being presented before the reasoning that leads up to it. Dupin himself reappears in " The Mystery of Marie Rogêt " and " The Purloined Letter ". The unnamed narrator opens with
6144-572: The flat side of rotating round stones, or by drawing the blade across stationary flat stones. The cutting edge is finished using a strop . Sharpening is usually not completed during manufacturing, instead being done after purchase. Handle scales are made of various materials, including mother-of-pearl , Bakelite , celluloid , bone, plastic, wood, horn, acrylic, ivory and tortoise shell . Celluloid can spontaneously combust at elevated temperatures. Buffalo horn tends to deform with time and it possesses form memory so it tends to warp. Mother of pearl
6240-425: The greater the thermal deformation that can occur due to changing temperatures, a fact that can lead to loss of edge sharpness. The weight of the blade is inversely proportional to the pressure that is applied during shaving. The heavier the blade, the lighter the pressure that needs to be applied during shaving. The degree of hollowness and thus the cross sectional area (thickness) of the blade vary depending on
6336-404: The grinding method used. Higher degree of hollowness in the blade implies a thinner cross section and this affects the stability ( bending or buckling properties) of the blade; the thinner the blade the more flexible it is. The length and weight of the blade and handle and their relation to each other determines the balance of the straight razor. The cutting area of the razor is proportional to
6432-432: The handle. The blade can be made of either stainless steel , which is resistant to rust but can be more difficult to hone, or high-carbon steel, which is much easier to hone and obtains a sharper edge, but will rust more easily than stainless steel if neglected. Cheap stainless steel straight razors from Asia and more expensive stainless steel and carbon steel razors from Europe are available. A razor blade starts as
6528-628: The head is almost entirely removed from the body. Dupin actually mentions Vidocq by name, dismissing him as "a good guesser". Poe originally titled the story "The Murders in the Rue Trianon-Bas" but renamed it to better associate with death. "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" first appeared in Graham's Magazine in April 1841 while Poe was working as an editor. He was paid an additional $ 56 (equivalent to $ 1,654 in 2023) for it — an unusually high figure; he
6624-400: The history of world literature". Often cited as the first detective fiction story, the character of Dupin became the prototype for many future fictional detectives, including Arthur Conan Doyle 's Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie 's Hercule Poirot . The genre is distinctive from a general mystery story in that the focus is on analysis. Poe's role in the creation of the detective story
6720-454: The late 1680s, early 1690s, razors with silver-covered handles along with other Sheffield-made products known as "Sheffield wares" were being exported to ports in the Gulf of Finland , approximately 1200 miles (1931 km) from Sheffield. From there, these goods were probably sent to Finland and even Russia. By 1740, Benjamin Huntsman was making straight razors complete with decorated handles and hollow-ground blades made from cast steel, using
6816-430: The length of the blade, therefore, a longer blade requires less frequent honing since its cutting edge does not deplete as fast as that of a shorter blade. For hollow-ground blades stability is augmented by a transverse stabiliser in the form of one or two narrow strips of thicker metal running from the back of the blade to the end of the shoulder (at the junction where the blade meets the shank). This piece, if present,
6912-671: The mid-20th century. Straight razor production eventually fell behind that of the safety razor , which was introduced in the late 19th century and featured a disposable blade. Electric razors have also reduced the market share of the straight razors, especially since the 1950s. A 1979 comparative study of straight and electric razors, performed by Dutch researchers, found that straight razors shave hair approximately 0.002 in. (0.05mm) shorter than electrics. Since 2012, production of straight razors has increased multifold. Straight razor sales are increasing globally and manufacturers have difficulty satisfying demand. Sales started increasing since
7008-403: The middle and acts as a bridge between them. When folded into the scales, the blade is protected from accidental damage, and the user is protected from accidental injury. During folding, the back of the blade, being thick and normally with a curved cross-section, acts as a natural stopper and prevents further rotation of the blade out of the handle from the other side. The frictional force between
7104-599: The new line: "The Prefect is somewhat too cunning to be profound", a change from the original "too cunning to be acute". "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" was also reprinted in Wiley & Putnam's collection of Poe's stories simply called Tales . Poe did not take part in selecting which tales would be collected. Poe's sequel to "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" was " The Mystery of Marie Rogêt ", first serialized in December 1842 and January 1843. Though subtitled "A Sequel to 'The Murders in
7200-499: The number of associated trades and artisans such as bladesmiths , leather craftsmen, and potters. Forums and outlets provide products, directions, and advice to straight razor users. Straight razor manufacturers exist in Europe , Asia , and North America . Antique straight razors are also actively traded. Straight razors require considerable skill to hone and strop , and require more care during shaving. Straight razor design and use
7296-541: The orangutan threw the mother's body out the window and stuffed Camille into the chimney before fleeing. The sailor sells the orangutan, Le Bon is released from custody, and an embarrassed G– sarcastically remarks that people should mind their own business. Dupin comments to the narrator that G– is "somewhat too cunning to be profound", but admires his ability " de nier ce qui est, et d'expliquer ce qui n'est pas " (a quote from Julie; or, The New Heloise by Jean-Jacques Rousseau : "to deny that which is, and explain that which
7392-434: The power of the spoken word. When Dupin asks the sailor for information about the murders, the sailor himself acts out a partial death: "The sailor's face flushed up as if he were struggling with suffocation... the next moment he fell back into his seat, trembling violently, and with the countenance of death itself". Poe biographer Jeffrey Meyers sums up the significance of "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" by saying it "changed
7488-537: The principal method of manual shaving for more than two hundred years, and remained in common use until the mid-20th century. Electric razors have also cut into the straight razor's market share , especially since the 1950s. A variant of the European straight-edge was developed by a brother of Ghezo and it was employed as a weapon by the Dahomey Amazons . This variant was significantly larger and carried over
7584-455: The product was featured in the 2012 James Bond film Skyfall and have remained high since. Straight razors are also perceived as a better value and a more sustainable and efficient product. Dovo in Germany reports that since a production low of less than 8,000 units per year in 2006, the company sells 3,000 units per month, and has 110,000 orders with production lead time of three years. The increased sales have also led to an increase in
7680-406: The ridge and the back of the blade is inversely proportional to the hollowness of the blade and is described in fractional terms in ascending steps of 1 ⁄ 4 as, for example, 1 ⁄ 4 hollow, 1 ⁄ 2 hollow, or 4 ⁄ 4 or 1 ⁄ 1 (full hollow). Full hollow indicates that the stabilizing ridge is very close to the midsection of the blade and the farthest from
7776-504: The same degree of sharpness for as long, because as the cutting edge erodes it can eventually reach the stabilising ridge faster where there is more material and thus the cutting-edge bevel cannot be maintained without excessive honing of the stabilising ridge to remove the additional material, which could also destabilise the rest of the blade. However, the partially hollow blade is more stable because its additional material makes it stiffer , and thus more resistant to deformation. In addition
7872-435: The scales and the tang applied about the pivot is called the tension and it determines how freely the blade rotates about the point of rotation. A proper amount of tension should be present, for safety reasons, to ensure that the blade does not spin freely when opening or closing. Straight razors consist of a blade sharpened on one edge and a handle attached to the blade through a pin. The blade can then rotate in and out of
7968-400: The shank-to-blade junction, covering the shank and just spilling over to the shoulder. The second stabiliser can be distinguished since it is considerably wider, thinner, and longer, appearing after the first stabiliser and running lower toward the heel. The arched, non-cutting top of the blade is called the back or the spine while the cutting part of the blade opposite the back is called
8064-529: The shoulder. When folded, the razor measured about 24–30 inches long and it weighed over 20 pounds. When extended, the blade measured 4–5 feet. Straight razors eventually fell out of fashion. Their first challenger was manufactured by King C. Gillette : a double-edged safety razor with replaceable blades. These new safety razors did not require any serious tutelage to use. The blades were extremely hard to sharpen, and were meant to be thrown away after one use, and rusted quickly if not discarded. They also required
8160-511: The steel at the optimum temperature for maximum hardness. The tempering stage follows the hardening process, where the blade is heated in a bath of oil at a temperature between 200–400 °C (392–752 °F). Tempering imparts the steel its flexibility and toughness according to the phase diagrams for steel. There are three types of steel blade according to the level of tempering it has received. Hard-tempered, medium-tempered and soft-tempered. Hard-tempered edges last longer but sharpening them
8256-474: The street "Rue Morgue" became "rue de l'Ouest", while "Dupin" became "Bernier". On October 12, 1846, another uncredited translation, renamed "Une Sanglante Enigme", was published in Le Commerce . The editor of Le Commerce was accused of plagiarizing the story from La Quotidienne . The accusation went to trial and the public discussion brought Poe's name to the attention of the French public. "The Murders in
8352-452: The streets and reached the Rue Morgue, where it climbed up and into the house. The orangutan seized the mother by the hair and was waving the razor, imitating a barber; when she screamed in fear, it flew into a rage, ripped her hair out, slashed her throat, and strangled Camille. The sailor climbed up the lightning rod in an attempt to catch the animal, and the two voices heard by witnesses belonged to it and him. Fearing punishment by its master,
8448-473: The time of the murder, one male and French, but disagreed on the language spoken by the other. The speech was unclear, and all witnesses claimed not to know the language the second voice was speaking. A bank clerk named Adolphe Le Bon, who had delivered the gold coins to the ladies the day before, is arrested even though there is no other evidence linking him to the crime. Remembering a service that Le Bon once performed for him, Dupin offers his assistance to "G–",
8544-426: The type of grinding method used and, since it affects the curvature of the blade cross section, includes the following two main types of blade grinds: The combination of the types found in these two classification categories can, in theory, lead to a wide variety of blade types such as round point hollow ground, square point flat ground etc., but in practice some points are combined with a specific grind. As an example,
8640-405: The user more shaving time and minimises blade rinse cycles. The disadvantage of the wider blade is that it is not as manoeuvrable as a narrower blade. A narrow blade can shave tight facial spots such as under the nose, but it must be rinsed more often. The most popular blade width size is 5 ⁄ 8 in (16 mm). The width of the blade can also affect its sharpness. The wider the blade,
8736-448: Was "harsh". Later adaptations of "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" include Phantom of the Rue Morgue (1954), a color 3D film that was produced by Warner Bros . Gordon Hessler directed a 1971 adaptation of Murders in the Rue Morgue , which is closer to being an adaptation of Phantom of the Opera than of Poe's tale. According to Hessler, "the problem with the original story, which
8832-661: Was "more literary than scientific". The name of the main character may have been inspired from the "Dupin" character in a series of stories first published in Burton's Gentleman's Magazine in 1828 called "Unpublished passages in the Life of Vidocq, the French Minister of Police". Poe would likely have known the story, which features an analytical man who discovers a murderer, though the two plots share little resemblance. Murder victims in both stories, however, have their neck cut so badly that
8928-449: Was on release and Frankenstein (1931) was in pre-production, so planning an adaptation of Poe's story did not begin until 1931. The film starred Bela Lugosi leading much of Poe's story changed to accommodate for him; Florey said he "had to strengthen and lengthen the Poe short story" and that he "added numerous characters". According to the book Universal Horrors , Murders in the Rue Morgue 's critical reception on its release
9024-546: Was once a major portion of the curriculum in barber colleges. Various forms of razors were used throughout history, which are different in appearance but similar in use to modern straight razors. In prehistoric times clam shells, shark's teeth, and flint were sharpened and used for shaving. Drawings of such blades were found in prehistoric caves. Some tribes still use blades made of flint to this day. Excavations in Egypt have unearthed solid gold and copper razors in tombs dating back to
9120-437: Was paid only $ 9 (equivalent to $ 294 in 2023) for " The Raven " in 1845. In 1843, Poe had the idea to print a series of pamphlets with his stories entitled The Prose Romances of Edgar A. Poe . He printed only one, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" oddly collected with the satirical " The Man That Was Used Up ". It sold for 12 and a half cents. This version included 52 changes from the original text from Graham's , including
9216-535: Was used for its first printing in Graham's Magazine was discarded in a wastebasket. An apprentice at the office, J. M. Johnston, retrieved it and left it with his father for safekeeping. It was left in a music book, where it survived three house fires before being bought by George William Childs . In 1891, Childs presented the manuscript, re-bound with a letter explaining its history, to Drexel University . Childs had also donated $ 650 (equivalent to $ 18,035 in 2023) for
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