A Treaty of Peace by Ambrose Bierce
"A Treaty of Peace" is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce in 1896. The story follows a group of soldiers who have just finished a long and grueling battle, and are now gathered around a fire to discuss the terms of a potential peace treaty with their enemy. As they debate and negotiate the terms of the treaty, tensions rise and old wounds are opened, leading to a dramatic and tragic conclusion. Through its exploration of the human cost of war and the complexities of peace-making, "A Treaty of Peace" is a powerful and thought-provoking work that continues to resonate with readers today.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1908 · Genre: Satire, Short Stories, War literature · 265 words
First lines
Through massacres of each other's citizens China and the United States had been four times plunged into devastating wars, when, in the year
1994, arose a Philosopher in Madagascar, who laid before the Governments of the two distracted countries the following "modus vivendi":
What this Textopian page supports
A Treaty of Peace is listed on Textopian as a fable by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1908 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: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Short Stories, War literature, Historical Fiction
- Length: 265 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Confusing
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Treaty of Peace 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 Treaty of Peace?
- How does this fable by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- To Colonel Dan Burns by Ambrose Bierce
- The Ingenious Patriot by Ambrose Bierce
- Re Edified by Ambrose Bierce
- An Undress Uniform by Ambrose Bierce
- The Lords Prayer On A Coin by Ambrose Bierce
- The Lion The Bear And The Fox by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Satire — Ambrose Bierce is recognized for his biting wit and satirical writing style, which he employs in this work.
- Short Stories — The book consists of numerous short narratives, fitting well into the genre of short stories.
- War literature — Reflecting on Bierce's personal experiences in the Civil War, the book explores themes of conflict and peace.
- Historical Fiction — Although the narratives are fictional, they are set in an historically accurate Civil War backdrop.
Tags
historical fiction · war novel · peace negotiations · diplomacy · politics · government · treaty · international relations · conflict resolution · military history · American literature · 19th century literature