The Ingenious Blackmailer
The Ingenious Blackmailer by Ambrose Bierce is a short story that revolves around the theme of blackmail. The protagonist, a man named John, discovers that his wife has been blackmailing her lover with information about their affair. John becomes embroiled in the situation and decides to use the information to his advantage, threatening to expose the lover's secrets unless he agrees to pay him a large sum of money. The story explores the themes of deception, manipulation, and the consequences of one's actions.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1908 · Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime · 286 words
First lines
An Inventor went to a King and was granted an audience, when the following conversation ensued:
"Inventor". -- "May it please your Majesty, I have invented a rifle that discharges lightning."
"King". -- "Ah, you wish to sell me the secret."
"Inventor". -- "Yes; it will enable your army to overrun any nation that is accessible."
What this Textopian page supports
The Ingenious Blackmailer is listed on Textopian as a fable by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1908 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: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Crime, Drama, Suspense
- Length: 286 words
- Structure: 1 section, 13 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Ingenious Blackmailer 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 Ingenious Blackmailer?
- How does this fable by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Three Thousand Dollars by Anna Katharine Green
- Double Standard by Alfred Coppel
- A Celebrated Case by Ambrose Bierce
- The Vengeance Of Larose by Arthur Gask
- Not Guilty by Ambrose Bierce
- Spanish Blood by Raymond Chandler
Genres
- Mystery — The title suggests an interaction between individuals involving blackmail, which is a common theme in mystery novels.
- Thriller — Blackmail and ingenious plans are commonly found in thriller novels, hinting at suspense and unexpected events.
- Crime — Blackmail is a criminal act, suggesting that crime is a theme of the book.
- Drama — The act of blackmail and the adjective ingenious hint at psychological and interpersonal conflict, which is a theme in dramatic works.
Tags
mystery · thriller · suspense · blackmail · crime · detective · investigation · plot twist · surprise ending · psychological · mental illness · greed