An Exile by Ambrose Bierce (1891)
"An Exile" is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce in 1891. The story follows the life of a man named John, who has been exiled to a remote island after committing a crime. The narrative explores themes of isolation, loneliness, and the human desire for connection and understanding. Through John's experiences, Bierce examines the psychological effects of being cut off from society and the ways in which people cope with their circumstances. Despite the bleak setting, the story offers a glimmer of hope through John's eventual redemption and his ability to find solace in his own company.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1891 · Genre: Short Stories, Classic Literature, War · 171 words
First lines
'Tis the census enumerator A-singing all forlorn: It's ho! for the tall potater, And ho! for the clustered corn.
The whiffle-tree bends in the breeze and the fine Large eggs are a-ripening on the vine.
"Some there must be to till the soil And the widow's weeds keep down.
I wasn't cut out for rural toil But they "won't" let me live in town! They 're not so many by two or three, As they think, but ah! they 're too many for me."
What this Textopian page supports
An Exile 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: Short Stories, Classic Literature, War, Historical Fiction, Satire
- Length: 171 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for An Exile by Ambrose Bierce
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- A Man by Ambrose Bierce
- Magnanimity by Ambrose Bierce
- The Two Cavees by Ambrose Bierce
- Johndonkey by Ambrose Bierce
- A Guest by Ambrose Bierce
- The Psoriad by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Short Stories — The book 'AN EXILE' is a collection of short stories by Ambrose Bierce.
- Classic Literature — Ambrose Bierce’s works, including 'AN EXILE,' fall under the classic literature genre since he was a preeminent writer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- War — Bierce’s work often depicts the horrors of warfare, and 'AN EXILE' is no exception.
- Historical Fiction — Although primarily based on his experiences in the American Civil War, Bierce uses fiction to expand on actual events, placing 'AN EXILE' into the historical fiction genre.
Tags
gothic · horror · fantasy · supernatural · mystery · thriller · suspense · literary fiction · classic · american literature · 19th century literature · psychological horror