A Prophet of Evil by Ambrose Bierce

Name: A Prophet of Evil
Author: Ambrose Bierce

"A Prophet of Evil" is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1893. The story follows a man named John Horton, who has been wrongfully accused of murder and sentenced to death. While on death row, Horton becomes obsessed with the idea that he is being punished for a crime he did not commit, and he begins to see visions of a mysterious figure known only as "The Prophet of Evil." As Horton's execution approaches, he becomes increasingly unhinged, convinced that The Prophet of Evil will soon reveal the truth about his innocence. Despite the efforts of his cellmate and a young woman who visits him, Horton remains convinced of his own guilt and the prophesied doom that awaits him. The story ends with Horton's execution, leaving the reader to ponder the nature of justice and the reliability of human perception.

By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1897 · Genre: Horror, Short Stories, Supernatural · 156 words

First lines

An Undertaker Who Was a Member of a Trust saw a Man Leaning on a Spade, and asked him why he was not at work.

"Because," said the Man Leaning on a Spade, "I belong to the

Gravediggers' National Extortion Society, and we have decided to limit the production of graves and get more money for the reduced output. We have a corner in graves and propose to work it to the best advantage."

"My friend," said the Undertaker Who Was a Member of a Trust, "this is a most hateful and injurious scheme. If people cannot be assured of graves, I fear they will no longer die, and the best interests of civilisation will wither like a frosted leaf."

What this Textopian page supports

A Prophet of Evil is listed on Textopian as a fable by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1897 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Fable
Author: Ambrose Bierce
Date: 1897 CE
Language: English
Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Supernatural, Thriller, Literary Fiction
Length: 156 words
Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for A Prophet of Evil 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 Prophet of Evil?
How does this fable by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Horror first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Horror — The book is written by Ambrose Bierce, a well-known author of horror and supernatural stories. The storyline centers around prophesies of evil, hinting at dark, horrifying occurrences.
Short Stories — Ambrose Bierce was known for his brilliant short stories, and 'A Prophet of Evil' is one of them. The narrative is concise and ends with a powerful punch line, as is typical of the short story genre.
Supernatural — The work delves into other-worldly themes, hinting at visions and prophecies delivered by supernatural entities. This places it firmly within the realm of supernatural fiction.
Thriller — The intense, suspenseful plot filled with chilling prophesies of evil and the uncertainty about their fulfilment qualify the book as a thrilling read.