Lucifer of the Torch

Name: Lucifer of the Torch
Author: Ambrose Bierce

"LUCIFER OF THE TORCH" is a novella written by Ambrose Bierce in 1896. The story follows a man named Marcus, who has been hired to retrieve a valuable treasure from an abandoned mine. However, upon arriving at the mine, he discovers that it is inhabited by a mysterious figure known only as "Lucifer." As Marcus navigates the dark and dangerous depths of the mine, he must confront his own fears and demons, as well as the enigmatic Lucifer, who seems to be hiding a sinister secret. Will Marcus be able to retrieve the treasure and escape the mine alive, or will he fall victim to the darkness that lurks within?

By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1898 · Genre: Horror, Supernatural Fiction, Mystery · 425 words

First lines

O Reverend Ravlin, once with sounding lung You shook the bloody banner of your tongue, Urged all the fiery boycotters afield And swore you'd rather follow them than yield, Alas, how brief the time, how great the change! -- Your dogs of war are ailing all of mange; The loose leash dangles from your finger-tips, But the loud "havoc" dies upon your lips.

No spirit animates your feeble clay -- You'd rather yield than even run away.

What this Textopian page supports

Lucifer of the Torch is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1898 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: 1898 CE
Language: English
Genres: Horror, Supernatural Fiction, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Short Stories
Length: 425 words
Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Lucifer of the Torch by Ambrose Bierce
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Lucifer of the Torch?
How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Horror first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Horror — As with many of Ambrose Bierce's works, 'Lucifer of the Torch' features horrifying events and circumstances, making it most aligned with this genre.
Supernatural Fiction — Considering the title and Bierce's penchant for exploring paranormal themes, this book likely contains elements of the supernatural.
Mystery — Ambrose Bierce often employs a puzzling narrative style to generate suspense and intrigue. This correlates with the mystery genre.
Historical Fiction — Bierce often bases his narratives on historical time periods, which could imply that 'Lucifer of the Torch' incorporates significant historical elements.