"A Tale of the Ragged Mountains," published in 1844, is a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe partially based on his experiences while a student at the University of Virginia. Set near Charlottesville, it is the only one of Poe's stories to take place in Virginia. It was first published in 1844. "A Tale of the Ragged Mountains" highlights scientific theories of Poe's day, engages with British imperial history and forecasts contemporary interest in psychoactive drugs, the transmigration of the soul and the dynamics of the doctor-patient relationship.