The Shafter Shafted by Ambrose Bierce
The Shaftesbury Shafted is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce in the late 19th century. It follows the tale of a man named John who, after being wrongfully accused and imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, seeks revenge against those who wronged him. The story explores themes of justice, morality, and the consequences of one's actions.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1896 · Genre: Satire, Short Story, Historical Fiction · 273 words
First lines
Well, James McMillan Shafter, you're a Judge -- / At least you were when last I knew of you; / And if the people since have made you budge / I did not notice it. I've much to do / Without endeavoring to follow, through / The miserable squabbles, dust and smudge, / The fate of even the veteran contenders / Who fight with flying colors and suspenders.
Being a Judge, 'tis natural and wrong / That you should villify the public press -- / Save while you are a candidate. That song / Is easy quite to sing, and I confess / It wins applause from hearers who have less / Of spiritual graces than belong / To audiences of another kidney -- / Men, for example, like Sir Philip Sidney.
What this Textopian page supports
The Shafter Shafted is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1896 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: 1896 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Short Story, Historical Fiction, Dark Humor, War Literature
- Length: 273 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Shafter Shafted by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Similar titles
- The Ineffective Rooter by Ambrose Bierce
- His Fly Speck Majesty by Ambrose Bierce
- The Yearly Lie by Ambrose Bierce
- The Writer And The Tramps by Ambrose Bierce
- The Oleomargarine Man by Ambrose Bierce
- The King Of Bores by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Satire — Ambrose Bierce's works, including 'The Shafter Shafted', often utilize satire to critique societal norms and behaviors.
- Short Story — Bierce is known for his short stories; 'The Shafter Shafted' is likely written in this concise form as well.
- Historical Fiction — 'The Shafter Shafted' might have historical elements, as Bierce frequently incorporates his Civil War experiences into his writing.
- Dark Humor — Bierce's writings frequently utilize dark or black humor, making this a potential genre of 'The Shafter Shafted'.
Tags
humor · satire · fiction · short story · American literature · classic · literary fiction · victorian era · irony · parody · wordplay · absurdity