For President, Leland Stanford by Ambrose Bierce
A short story about a man named Leland Stanford who becomes the President of the United States after a series of unexpected events. The story explores themes of ambition, power, and the consequences of one's actions.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1872 · Genre: Biography, Political, Non-fiction · 342 words
First lines
Mahomet Stanford, with covetous stare, / Gazed on a vision surpassingly fair: / Far on the desert's remote extreme / A mountain of gold with a mellow gleam / Reared its high pinnacles into the sky, / The work of "mirage" to delude the eye.
Pixley Pasha, at the Prophet's feet / Piously licking them, swearing them sweet, / Ventured, observing his master's glance, / To beg that he order the mountain's advance.
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Genres
- Biography — The book focuses on the life of Leland Stanford, a prominent historical figure, indicating it is a biographical work.
- Political — Given Leland Stanford's political career, including his time as a senator and governor, and the title itself, this book fits the political genre.
- Non-fiction — Leland Stanford is a factual person who existed in history, validating the non-fiction genre.
- History — Leland Stanford's contributions significantly influenced the course of American history, particularly the construction of the transcontinental railroad, marking this as a historical genre.
Tags
political satire · humor · fiction · short story · presidential election · Leland Stanford · California history · gold rush · western · victorian era · literary fiction · classic literature
What this Textopian page supports
For President, Leland Stanford is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1872 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: 1872 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Biography, Political, Non-fiction, History
- Length: 342 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for For President, Leland Stanford by Ambrose Bierce
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