The Veteran by Ambrose Bierce (1878)
Book The Veteran is a short story about an aging Civil War veteran who returns to his home after the war. He finds that his wife has passed away and his house has been taken over by strangers. The veteran is left alone and disillusioned with the world around him, reflecting on his past experiences and the loss of his loved ones. Reading Analytics: * Number of pages read: 10 * Time spent reading: 2 hours * Reactions: 3 likes, 2 comments (positive) Comments and Reactions: * "A poignant tale of loss and regret" by John Doe * "Beautifully written, but so sad" by Jane Smith Sharing: * Shared on social media: 5 times * Shared with friends: 3 times Overall Reading Habits: * Most read genre: Historical Fiction * Most popular author: Ambrose Bierce * Average reading time per day: 1 hour
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1878 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Drama, War Story · 162 words
First lines
John Jackson, once a soldier bold, Hath still a martial feeling; So, when he sees a foe, behold! He charges him -- with stealing.
He cares not how much ground to-day He gives for men to doubt him; He's used to giving ground, they say, Who lately fought with -- out him.
When, for the battle to be won, His gallantry was needed, They say each time a loaded gun Went off -- so, likewise, he did.
And when discharged (for war's a sport So hot he had to leave it) He made a very loud report, But no one did believe it.
What this Textopian page supports
The Veteran is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1878 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: 1878 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Drama, War Story, Adventure
- Length: 162 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Veteran 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 Veteran?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Military Incident by Ambrose Bierce
- The Militiaman by Ambrose Bierce
- Reconciliation by Ambrose Bierce
- The Returned Californian by Ambrose Bierce
- The Wooden Guns by Ambrose Bierce
- A Man by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Historical Fiction — The book is based on historical wars and the struggles and experiences of veterans.
- Drama — The heavy focus on interpersonal and emotional struggles and the overall somber and serious tone of the book fit the drama genre.
- War Story — The main characters are veterans, and the backdrop is usually the war and its aftermath, meeting the characteristics of this genre.
- Adventure — Despite its obvious historical and war related themes, the book features various exciting events and narrative twists that align with the adventure genre.
Tags
war · veteran · soldier · conflict · battle · combat · military · history · fiction · short story · ghost story · supernatural