The Night-Doings at "Deadman's"
A group of strangers gather at a remote mansion to spend the night, each with their own dark secrets and motivations. As they try to uncover the truth about the mysterious host's intentions, they are confronted by supernatural forces that threaten to destroy them all. The story explores themes of isolation, paranoia, and the blurred lines between reality and madness.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1866 · Genre: Gothic Fiction, Horror, Mystery · 3,623 words
First lines
It was a singularly sharp night, and clear as the heart of a diamond. Clear nights have a trick of being keen. In darkness you may be cold and not know it; when you see, you suffer. This night was bright enough to bite like a serpent. The moon was moving mysteriously along behind the giant pines crowning the South Mountain, striking a cold sparkle from the crusted snow, and bringing out against the black west the ghostly outlines of the Coast Range, beyond which lay the invisible Pacific. The snow had piled itself, in the open spaces along the bottom of the gulch, into long ridges that seemed to heave, and into hills that appeared to toss and scatter spray. The spray was sunlight, twice reflected: dashed once from the moon, once from the snow.
What this Textopian page supports
The Night-Doings at "Deadman's" is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1866 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: 1866 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Gothic Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Literary Fiction, Western
- Length: 3,623 words
- Structure: 1 section, 44 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Night-Doings at "Deadman's" 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 The Night-Doings at "Deadman's"?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Gothic Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Creature Of Habit by Ambrose Bierce
- The Other Lodgers by Ambrose Bierce
- A Watcher By The Dead by Ambrose Bierce
- The Ways Of Ghosts by Ambrose Bierce
- The Haunted Valley by Ambrose Bierce
- One Summer Night by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Gothic Fiction — The story features supernatural elements, a dark and eerie setting, and themes of death and the macabre, characteristic of Gothic literature.
- Horror — The narrative evokes fear and suspense through the presence of a ghost and the unsettling atmosphere of isolation and dread.
- Mystery — The plot revolves around unexplained occurrences and the protagonist's quest to understand the strange events happening in Deadman's Gulch.
- Literary Fiction — The work employs rich, descriptive language and explores complex themes such as isolation, mortality, and the human condition.
Tags
Supernatural Fiction · Gothic Horror · Short Story Collection · American Literature · 19th Century Literature · Dark Fantasy · Mystery and Suspense · Psychological Thriller · Atmospheric Setting · Isolated Location · Small Town Secrets · Paranormal Activity