George Thurston by Ambrose Bierce
The story revolves around a man who dies and returns to life after being buried for several days. He finds that his wife has married another man during his supposed death. The narrative explores themes of mortality, identity, and the human condition through George Thurston's experiences as he navigates this new reality.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1868 · Genre: Military Fiction, Historical Fiction, Tragedy · 2,091 words
First lines
George Thurston was a first lieutenant and aide-de-camp on the staff of Colonel Brough, commanding a Federal brigade. Colonel Brough was only temporarily in command, as senior colonel, the brigadier-general having been severely wounded and granted a leave of absence to recover. Lieutenant Thurston was, I believe, of Colonel Brough's regiment, to which, with his chief, he would naturally have been relegated had he lived till our brigade commander's recovery. The aide whose place Thurston took had been killed in battle; Thurston's advent among us was the only change in the personnel of our staff consequent upon the change in commanders. We did not like him; he was unsocial. This, however, was more observed by others than by me. Whether in camp or on the march, in barracks, in tents, or en bivouac, my duties as topographical engineer kept me working like a beaver -- all day in the saddle and half the night at my drawing-table, platting my surveys. It was hazardous work; the nearer to the enemy's lines I could penetrate, the more valuable were my field notes and the resulting maps. It was a business in which the lives of men counted as nothing against the chance of defining a road or sketching a bridge. Whole squadrons of cavalry escort had sometimes to be sent thundering against a powerful infantry outpost in order that the brief time between the charge and the inevitable retreat might be utilized in sounding a ford or determining the point of intersection of two roads.
What this Textopian page supports
George Thurston is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1868 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: 1868 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Military Fiction, Historical Fiction, Tragedy, Adventure, Character Study
- Length: 2,091 words
- Structure: 1 section, 16 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for George Thurston 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 George Thurston?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Military Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Spectacles by Edgar Allan Poe
- My Aunt Margarets Adventure by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
- The Famous Gilson Bequest by Ambrose Bierce
- A Light Sleeper by Ambrose Bierce
- The Thing At Nolan by Ambrose Bierce
- The Oblong Box by Edgar Allan Poe
Genres
- Military Fiction — The narrative centers around military life, battles, and the experiences of soldiers during a war.
- Historical Fiction — The story is set against the backdrop of a specific historical period, reflecting the realities of the Civil War.
- Tragedy — The plot culminates in the tragic death of the protagonist, highlighting themes of fate and the fragility of life.
- Adventure — The protagonist engages in hazardous expeditions and encounters, showcasing elements of adventure and risk.
Tags
American Literature · Short Story · Mystery · Thriller · Detective Fiction · Crime Fiction · Satire · Social Commentary · Dark Humor · Psychological Thriller · Gothic Fiction · Supernatural Elements