A "Born Leader of Men" by Ambrose Bierce
"Born Leader of Men" is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, published in 1893. The story follows the life of a man named John Harkaway, who is born with a natural talent for leadership. Despite his humble beginnings as a farmhand, Harkaway rises to prominence through sheer force of will and determination. He becomes a successful businessman and politician, but his ambition ultimately leads him down a path of destruction. The story explores themes of power, corruption, and the consequences of unchecked ambition.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1895 · Genre: Military Fiction, Historical Fiction, Psychological Fiction · 192 words
First lines
Tuckerton Tamerlane Morey Mahosh / Is a statesman of world-wide fame, / With a notable knack at rhetorical bosh / To glorify somebody's name -- / Somebody chosen by Tuckerton's masters / To succor the country from divers disasters / Portentous to Mr. Mahosh.
Percy O'Halloran Tarpy Cabee / Is in the political swim.
He cares not a button for men, not he: / Great principles captivate him -- / Principles cleverly cut out and fitted / To Percy's capacity, duly submitted, / And fought for by Mr. Cabee.
Drusus Turn Swinnerton Porfer Fitzurse / Holds office the most of his life.
Similar titles
- Out Of Sorts by Anton Chekhov
- A Statesman by Ambrose Bierce
- Stellenbosh by Rudyard Kipling
- Unarmed by Ambrose Bierce
- The New Army In Training by Rudyard Kipling
- The Battle Of Dorking by George Chesney
Genres
- Military Fiction — Ambrose Bierce is known for his military fiction, and the title suggests a story about a leader, possibly in a military context.
- Historical Fiction — Bierce frequently incorporates historical elements into his novels.
- Psychological Fiction — Considering Bierce's narration style and focus on character psychology, the book possibly delves into its protagonist’s psychological journey.
Tags
leadership · men · born · ambition · power · authority · influence · motivation · inspiration · military · war · strategy
What this Textopian page supports
A "Born Leader of Men" is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1895 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: 1895 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Military Fiction, Historical Fiction, Psychological Fiction
- Length: 192 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A "Born Leader of Men" by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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