Von Kempelen and His Discovery cover art

Von Kempelen and His Discovery

Preview

Try Premium Plus free
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Von Kempelen and His Discovery

By: Edgar Allan Poe
Narrated by: Sal Stevens
Try Premium Plus free

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $6.99

Buy Now for $6.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.
Cancel

About this listen

Edgar Allen Poe, the hugely well-known American short story writer and poet, is considered a literary pioneer for many reasons, but the surprising and humourous story behind his short "story" "Von Kempelen and His Discovery" is often overlooked. Predating Orson Welles’ radio hoax by nearly a hundred years, "Von Kempelen and His Discovery" was a mock scientific article first published in 1849 in the journal The Flag of Our Union and reported a German chemist had discovered an alchemical process that could turn lead into gold. The article was presented as actual news and at the time was not credited to Poe. The article would have been all the more effective at the time, the peak of the California Gold Rush.

Public Domain (P)2018 Museum Audiobooks
Classics Short Stories Fiction Discovery

What listeners say about Von Kempelen and His Discovery

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.