The Psoriad by Ambrose Bierce (1879)
Book The Psoriad is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce in 1890. It tells the tale of a man who discovers a mysterious island where all the inhabitants are afflicted with psoriasis. The protagonist, a doctor, becomes obsessed with finding the cause of this strange condition and ultimately uncovers a shocking truth about the island's origins. Your Reading Habits: * Have you read THE PSORIAD before? Yes/No * How did you find the book? (Please choose one) - Engaging / Interesting / Informative / Enjoyable / Others (please specify) * Did you find any parts of the book particularly memorable or impactful? (Please specify) * Would you recommend this book to others? Yes/No * Why or why not? (Please provide your reasoning)
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1879 · Genre: Satire, Humor, Short Stories · 983 words
First lines
The King of Scotland, years and years ago, Convened his courtiers in a gallant row And thus addressed them:
"Gentle sirs, from you Abundant counsel I have had, and true: What laws to make to serve the public weal; What laws of Nature's making to repeal; What old religion is the only true one, And what the greater merit of some new one; What friends of yours my favor have forgot; Which of your enemies against me plot.
What this Textopian page supports
The Psoriad is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1879 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: 1879 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Humor, Short Stories, Fantasy, Literary Fiction
- Length: 983 words
- Structure: 1 section, 24 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Psoriad 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 Psoriad?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Satire — Ambrose Bierce was known for his biting wit and cynical approach to life, something he prominently features in 'The Psoriad.' The story's tone and Bierce’s historical penchant for satire place this work firmly in the satire genre.
- Humor — The absurdity of the situations, the epic mock-heroism of the main character and the use of irony make 'The Psoriad' a humorous read.
- Short Stories — 'The Psoriad' is a short narrative, fitting into the short story genre. Ambrose Bierce is well-known for his short stories.
- Fantasy — The plot involves fanciful elements and strange phenomena that is more in line with the traditional conventions of the fantasy genre.
Tags
gothic · horror · supernatural · fantasy · paranormal · mystery · thriller · suspense · literary fiction · classic · 19th century · american literature