Bimetalism by Ambrose Bierce (1874)
"Bimetalism" is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce in 1890. The story follows a man named John H. Foster, who is obsessed with the idea of bimetallism, or the use of two different metals as standard currencies. Foster becomes convinced that this system would bring about economic prosperity and stability, but his friends and family dismiss his ideas as foolish. Despite their skepticism, Foster continues to advocate for bimetalism, even going so far as to start a newspaper dedicated to the cause. However, as he delves deeper into his research, Foster begins to realize that his obsession with bimetalism is causing him to neglect his relationships and responsibilities. In the end, Foster's fixation on bimetalism leads to his downfall, leaving him isolated and alone.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1874 · Genre: Non-fiction, Economics, History · 361 words
First lines
Ben Bulger was a silver man, Though not a mine had he: He thought it were a noble plan To make the coinage free.
"There hain't for years been sech a time," Said Ben to his bull pup, "For biz -- the country's broke and I'm The hardest kind of up.
What this Textopian page supports
Bimetalism is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1874 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: 1874 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Non-fiction, Economics, History, Political Science
- Length: 361 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Bimetalism by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Bimetalism?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Non-fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Non-fiction — The book is a factual account of monetary economics, specifically on the topic of bimetallism.
- Economics — Bierce researched and analyzed the economic topic of bimetallism in depth.
- History — The book provides historical information about the use of bimetallism in the United States.
- Political Science — The book discusses the political implications of bimetallism.
Tags
political satire · social commentary · fiction · short story · irony · sarcasm · humor · critique of capitalism · economic critique · corporate greed · power dynamics · class struggle