The Thing at Nolan by Ambrose Bierce
A man returns to his hometown after a long absence and discovers that the town has changed beyond recognition. The once-thriving community is now a desolate wasteland, devoid of life and vitality. He encounters a mysterious figure known only as "The Thing" who seems to be the source of the town's decay.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1863 · Genre: Mystery, Horror, Psychological Thriller · 1,708 words
First lines
To the south of where the road between Leesville and Hardy, in the State of Missouri, crosses the east fork of May Creek stands an abandoned house. Nobody has lived in it since the summer of 1879, and it is fast going to pieces. For some three years before the date mentioned above, it was occupied by the family of Charles May, from one of whose ancestors the creek near which it stands took its name.
Mr. May's family consisted of a wife, an adult son and two young girls. The son's name was John -- the names of the daughters are unknown to the writer of this sketch.
What this Textopian page supports
The Thing at Nolan is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1863 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: 1863 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Horror, Psychological Thriller, Gothic Fiction, Western
- Length: 1,708 words
- Structure: 1 section, 18 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Thing at Nolan by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Thing at Nolan?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- A Watcher By The Dead by Ambrose Bierce
- The Moonlit Road by Ambrose Bierce
- One Summer Night by Ambrose Bierce
- The Secret Of Macargers Gulch by Ambrose Bierce
- The Spook House by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Mystery — The plot revolves around a murder investigation and the uncertainty surrounding the disappearance of a character, creating suspense and intrigue.
- Horror — Themes of death, potential haunting, and the eerie atmosphere surrounding the abandoned house contribute to a sense of dread.
- Psychological Thriller — The exploration of the characters' mental states, particularly John May's descent into illness and delirium, adds a psychological dimension to the narrative.
- Gothic Fiction — The setting of an abandoned house and themes of family conflict and death align with gothic elements.
Tags
Supernatural Fiction · Horror Story · Short Story · American Literature · 19th Century Literature · Gothic Fiction · Mystery · Thriller · Psychological Thriller · Paranormal Activity · Ghost Story · Atmospheric Setting