The Fugitive Office
The Fugitive Office is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce in 1891. It follows the tale of a man who has fled his office after being wrongfully accused of embezzlement. The story explores themes of guilt, innocence, and the struggle to prove oneself in a society that often judges based on appearances rather than facts. In this web tool, users can find and read this book in the public domain, track their reading progress, leave comments and reactions, and share what they have read. The analytics generated by the tool will provide insights into users' reading habits, such as which books they prefer, how long they spend reading, and what genres they enjoy the most.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1872 · Genre: Satire, Short Stories, Historical Fiction · 111 words
First lines
A Traveller arriving at the capitol of the nation saw a vast plain outside the wall, filled with struggling and shouting men. While he looked upon the alarming spectacle an Office broke away from the Throng and took shelter in a tomb close to where he stood, the crowd being too intent upon hammering one another to observe that the cause of their contention had departed.
"Poor bruised and bleeding creature," said the compassionate Traveller,
"what misfortune caused you to be so far away from the source of power?"
"I 'sought the man," said the Office.
What this Textopian page supports
The Fugitive Office is listed on Textopian as a fable 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: Fable
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1872 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Short Stories, Historical Fiction, War Literature, Mystery
- Length: 111 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Fugitive Office 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 The Fugitive Office?
- How does this fable by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- One Moods Expression by Ambrose Bierce
- The Scurril Press by Ambrose Bierce
- Consolation by Ambrose Bierce
- Re Edified by Ambrose Bierce
- A Fool by Ambrose Bierce
- The Difficulty Of Crossing A Field by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Satire — Ambrose Bierce is well known for his satirical writing style, often using wit and sarcasm to criticize society and institutions.
- Short Stories — Bierce's work often involved brief, concise tales showcasing singular events or experiences.
- Historical Fiction — The setting and context often include historical elements, likely presented in a fictitious manner.
- War Literature — Bierce's work often involves war themes, drawing from his own experiences as a Union soldier in the Civil War.
Tags
thriller · fiction · short story · mystery · suspense · literary fiction · classic literature · american literature · gothic fiction · horror · supernatural · dark humor