The Man of the Crowd is a short story by American writer Edgar Allan Poe about a nameless narrator following a man through a crowded London. The story was first published simultaneously in the December 1840 issues of Atkinson's Casket and Burton's Gentleman's Magazine. The latter was the final issue of that periodical. The narrator perceives a crowd which is outside a London coffee shop through the window panes in the Autumn evening. He analyzes the people and divides them into various sections based on their appearances. The businessmen, clerks, gamblers, and porters etcetera are examples of those groups. The author also observes a weird looking old man and then follows him outside the shop continuously. The rain occurs as well while the writer is busy following the old man. That old man keeps on moving on some tracks, and he, sometimes, retraces his steps. He also goes into a market where he visits shops one by one. Also, he does not ask for any prices nor does say a word to any shopkeeper in the stores. This wanderer passes through many places including a very filthy one, but the writer continues chasing him all the time until the next evening. On the second evening, the narrator stops his pursuit by saying that it is not possible to know anything about the old man. According to him, that weird man cannot remain alone or without a crowd, and that is what makes him a unique social person. You can listen online to free English audiobook “The Man of the Crowd” by Edgar Allan Poe on our website.
