A Bad Night by Ambrose Bierce (1873)
"A Bad Night" is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1893. The story follows a man who, after a series of unfortunate events, finds himself alone and lost in the woods on a cold winter night. As he struggles to find his way back to civilization, he encounters various obstacles and dangers, including a pack of wolves and a fierce snowstorm. Despite his efforts to survive, the man ultimately succumbs to the harsh conditions and dies alone in the wilderness. The story is known for its bleak and realistic portrayal of life and death, as well as its exploration of themes such as isolation, perseverance, and the futility of human existence.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1873 · Genre: Short Stories, Horror, Mystery · 2,054 words
First lines
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
VILLIAM "a Sen" / NEEDLESON "a Sidniduc" / SMILER "a Scheister" / KI-YI "a Trader" / GRIMGHAST "a Spader" / SARALTHIA "a Love-lorn Nymph" / NELLIBRAC "a Sweetun"
What this Textopian page supports
A Bad Night is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1873 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1873 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Stories, Horror, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy
- Length: 2,054 words
- Structure: 1 section, 81 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Bad Night by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Similar titles
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- Magnanimity by Ambrose Bierce
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- A Revivalist Revived by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Short Stories — Ambrose Bierce is a renowned author of short stories, and 'A Bad Night' is a prime example of his work in this genre.
- Horror — Ambrose Bierce's works, including 'A Bad Night', often have chilling atmospheres and scary themes characteristic of the horror genre.
- Mystery — 'A Bad Night' involves elements of suspense, surprise, and a sense of unease which are common features in mystery novels.
- Thriller — The book 'A Bad Night' by Ambrose Bierce is full of suspense, excitement, and tension, characteristics associated with the thriller genre.
Tags
gothic · horror · mystery · thriller · supernatural · fiction · short story · classic · literature · american literature · 19th century literature · dark humor