The Famous Gilson Bequest
A wealthy man dies and leaves his vast fortune to a mysterious stranger who has never been seen by anyone. The story revolves around the attempts of various individuals to uncover the identity of this beneficiary and claim the inheritance for themselves.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1891 · Genre: Dark Comedy, Satire, Gothic Fiction · 3,252 words
First lines
It was rough on Gilson. Such was the terse, cold, but not altogether unsympathetic judgment of the better public opinion at Mammon Hill -- the dictum of respectability. The verdict of the opposite, or rather the opposing, element -- the element that lurked red-eyed and restless about Moll Gurney's "deadfall," while respectability took it with sugar at Mr. Jo. Bentley's gorgeous "saloon" -- was to pretty much the same general effect, though somewhat more ornately expressed by the use of picturesque expletives, which it is needless to quote. Virtually, Mammon Hill was a unit on the Gilson question. And it must be confessed that in a merely temporal sense all was not well with Mr. Gilson. He had that morning been led into town by Mr. Brentshaw and publicly charged with horse stealing; the sheriff meantime busying himself about The Tree with a new manila rope and Carpenter Pete being actively employed between drinks upon a pine box about the length and breadth of Mr. Gilson. Society having rendered its verdict, there remained between Gilson and eternity only the decent formality of a trial.
What this Textopian page supports
The Famous Gilson Bequest is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1891 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: 1891 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Dark Comedy, Satire, Gothic Fiction, Western, Tragedy
- Length: 3,252 words
- Structure: 1 section, 20 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
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- Work identity for The Famous Gilson Bequest by Ambrose Bierce
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Genres
- Dark Comedy — The narrative employs humor to explore serious themes of morality, justice, and societal hypocrisy, often through absurd situations.
- Satire — The work critiques social norms and the legal system, highlighting the absurdity of human behavior and societal values.
- Gothic Fiction — Elements of the supernatural and a dark atmosphere are present, particularly in the ghostly appearances and themes of death.
- Western — Set in a frontier town, it reflects the lawlessness and moral ambiguity typical of Western narratives.
Tags
Mystery · Thriller · Short Story Collection · American Literature · 19th Century Fiction · Dark Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Gothic Fiction · Supernatural Elements · Psychological Thriller · Paranormal Activity