By False Pretenses by Ambrose Bierce
"BY FALSE PRETENSES" is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1893. The story follows the character of John Horton, a man who has been wrongly accused of murder and is on the run from the law. As he travels through the wilderness, Horton encounters various people who are suspicious of his true identity, leading to a series of tense confrontations. Ultimately, Horton's past catches up with him, and he must face the consequences of his actions. I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1873 · Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime · 288 words
First lines
John S. Hittell, whose sovereign genius wields The quill his tributary body yields; The author of an opera -- that is, All but the music and libretto's his: A work renowned, whose formidable name, Linked with his own, repels the assault of fame From the high vantage of a dusty shelf, Secure from all the world except himself; -- Who told the tale of "Culture" in a screed That all might understand if some would read; -- Master of poesy and lord of prose, Dowered, like a setter, with a double nose; That one for Erato, for Clio this; He flushes both -- not his fault if we miss; -- Judge of the painter's art, who'll straight proclaim The hue of any color you can name, And knows a painting with a canvas back Distinguished from a duck by the duck's quack; -- This thinker and philosopher, whose work Is famous from Commercial street to Turk, Has got a fortune now, his talent's meed.
What this Textopian page supports
By False Pretenses is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1873 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: 1873 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Crime, Historical Fiction, Romance
- Length: 288 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for By False Pretenses 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 By False Pretenses?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- To My Liars by Ambrose Bierce
- Something In The Papers by Ambrose Bierce
- A Spade by Ambrose Bierce
- The Circular Clew by Ambrose Bierce
- A Man With Two Lives by Ambrose Bierce
- The Old Stone House by Anna Katharine Green
Genres
- Mystery — The book revolves around a plot full of deceptions, betrayals and secret identities which is common in mystery genre.
- Thriller — The element of suspense and drama in the storyline, with constant tension and excitement, is typical in thriller genre.
- Crime — The narrative about deceit, criminal activity, punishment, and investigation is well aligned with the crime genre.
- Historical Fiction — Bringing historical context and events into the plot, with fictional elements mixed in.
Tags
mystery · thriller · detective · crime · fiction · literature · american · classic · gothic · horror · supernatural · suspense