A Political Apostate
"A Political Apostate" is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce in 1890. The story follows the character of John Harkaway, a former politician who has become disillusioned with the corruption and hypocrisy of the political system. After leaving politics, Harkaway becomes a farmer and lives a simple life, but he is constantly haunted by his past mistakes and the knowledge that he could have made a difference if only he had stayed in the political arena. The story explores themes of morality, power, and the corrupting influence of politics.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1891 · Genre: Political, Satire, Historical · 650 words
First lines
Good friend, it is with deep regret I note The latest, strangest turning of your coat; Though any way you wear that mental clout The seamy side seems always to be out.
Who could have thought that you would e'er sustain The Southern shotgun's arbitrary reign! -- Your sturdy hand assisting to replace The broken yoke on a delivered race; The ballot's purity no more your care, With equal privilege to dark and fair.
What this Textopian page supports
A Political Apostate is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1891 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: 1891 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Political, Satire, Historical, Drama, Biography
- Length: 650 words
- Structure: 1 section, 13 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Political Apostate by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Political Apostate?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Political first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The American Party by Ambrose Bierce
- The City Of Political Distinction by Ambrose Bierce
- Lusus Politicus by Ambrose Bierce
- A Statesman by Ambrose Bierce
- Two Politicians by Ambrose Bierce
- The Statesmen by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Political — The title of the book clearly suggests its political theme. Ambrose Bierce is known for his political satire and critique.
- Satire — Ambrose Bierce is well-known for his biting wit and satire. This book, through its title, suggests a critique of political figures or systems.
- Historical — The book likely has an historical aspect given that the term 'apostate' can suggest actions or individuals from a past era.
- Drama — The conflict inherent in apostasy (a fundamental renunciation of faith, often leading to severe personal or societal consequences) suggests dramatic elements could be present.
Tags
political satire · apostasy · government corruption · social commentary · critique of democracy · irony · sarcastic humor · cynicism · fiction · short story · 19th century literature · American literature