An Arrest by Ambrose Bierce (1866)
The story revolves around a man who is arrested and taken to a police station where he is interrogated by a detective. The man's alibi for the time of the crime is shaky at best, but he insists on his innocence. As the interrogation continues, it becomes clear that the detective is not convinced of the man's guilt or innocence, and is instead focused on extracting a confession from him.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1866 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Crime Fiction, Psychological Thriller · 674 words
First lines
Having murdered his brother-in-law, Orrin Brower of Kentucky was a fugitive from justice. From the county jail where he had been confined to await his trial he had escaped by knocking down his jailer with an iron bar, robbing him of his keys and, opening the outer door, walking out into the night. The jailer being unarmed, Brower got no weapon with which to defend his recovered liberty. As soon as he was out of the town he had the folly to enter a forest; this was many years ago, when that region was wilder than it is now.
What this Textopian page supports
An Arrest is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1866 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: 1866 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Crime Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Gothic Fiction, Drama
- Length: 674 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for An Arrest 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 An Arrest?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Eye Of Osiris by R. Austin Freeman
- The Strange Schemes Of Randolph Mason by Melville Davisson Post
- The Confession Of A Murderer by O. Henry
- The Frame Up by Richard Harding Davis
- The Abominable History Of The Man With Copper Fingers by Dorothy L. Sayers
- Tracked To Doom by O. Henry
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of morality, justice, and human psychology, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Crime Fiction — The plot centers around a fugitive who has committed murder, fitting the crime fiction genre.
- Psychological Thriller — The tension and internal conflict of the protagonist create a psychological depth typical of thrillers.
- Gothic Fiction — The dark, atmospheric setting and themes of death and fear align with gothic elements.
Tags
Short Story · Crime Fiction · Mystery · Suspense · Thriller · Detective Fiction · Police Procedural · Legal Thriller · Courtroom Drama · Justice System · Law Enforcement · Criminal Investigation