Literature

Literature

Ambrose Bierce's most famous short story, first published in the July 13, 1890 San Francisco Examiner, is set during the Civil War. As the story opens, Peyton Farquhar, a Confederate sympathizer, is about to be hanged from a bridge. The second part of the story describes the events that have led up to the hanging: induced to the action by a disguised Union soldier, Farquhar has attempted to sabotage the bridge and has been captured. In the next section Farquhar's rope breaks, and he falls into the water, ultimately swimming to safety through volleys of gunfire. As he travels through the ...