A Whipper-in by Ambrose Bierce

Name: A Whipper-in
Author: Ambrose Bierce

"The Whipple-In" is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1890. The story follows the journey of a man named Captain Fell, who has been appointed as the new "whipple-in" (a term used in the British Army to refer to an officer responsible for maintaining discipline and order within a regiment) of his regiment. As Captain Fell takes on his new role, he begins to notice strange occurrences within the regiment, including reports of ghostly apparitions and unexplained noises. Despite his initial skepticism, Captain Fell becomes increasingly convinced that there is something supernatural at play, and he sets out to uncover the truth. Through a series of eerie events and encounters with the unknown, Captain Fell's sanity is put to the test as he struggles to make sense of the strange happenings within his regiment. Ultimately, the true nature of the occurrences is revealed in a shocking and unsettling climax that challenges Captain Fell's perceptions of reality itself.

By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1899 · Genre: Fiction, Historical, Adventure · 402 words

First lines

[Commissioner of Pensions Dudley has established a Sunday-school and / declares he will remove any clerk in his department who does not / regularly attend. -- "N.Y. World.]"

Dudley, great placeman, man of mark and note, / Worthy of honor from a feeble pen / Blunted in service of all true, good men, / You serve the Lord -- in courses, "table d'hote: / Au, naturel," as well as "a la Nick" -- / "Eat and be thankful, though it make you sick."

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What this Textopian page supports

A Whipper-in is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1899 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: 1899 CE
Language: English
Genres: Fiction, Historical, Adventure, Drama
Length: 402 words
Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Work identity for A Whipper-in by Ambrose Bierce
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Genres

Fiction — As a book by Ambrose Bierce, it is rooted in fiction, creating a story which is predicated on the imagined experiences of the characters.
Historical — Bierce's works often reflect the time period and significant historical events during which they were written, providing insight into specific historical periods and context.
Adventure — Bierce's writings often feature adventurous plots with characters encountering a series of events that make up the main part of the story.
Drama — The featured events, character interactions, and overall structure of Bierce's stories could be said to align with dramatic themes and structures.