| Author |
Bierce, Ambrose, 1842-1914? |
| Title |
The Parenticide Club
|
| Note |
Reading ease score: 61.9 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
|
| Contents |
My favorite murder -- Oil of Dog -- An Imperfect Conflagration -- The Hypnotist.
|
| Credits |
Produced by Paul J. Hollander. HTML version by Al Haines.
|
| Summary |
"The Parenticide Club" by Ambrose Bierce is a collection of darkly humorous short stories written in the late 19th century. The book presents a satirical exploration of familial relationships and societal norms, with a particular focus on murder and moral absurdity. Through Bierce’s wit and quirky narrative style, the stories delve into the often grim motivations for familial discord and the extremes to which individuals will go in the name of revenge or self-interest. The collection features four narratives, each brimming with Bierce's signature mordant humor. In "My Favorite Murder," the protagonist recounts his chilling and ludicrous trial for the murder of his uncle, where absurdity reigns as he justifies his actions with a family-friendly twist. "Oil of Dog" tells the story of a young man whose parents' greed leads to their demise, while "An Imperfect Conflagration" hilariously describes a failed attempt to cover up a double murder by burning the evidence. The final story, "The Hypnotist," showcases a whimsical and chaotic scene where the protagonist uses hypnotism on his parents, leading to an uproarious turn of events. Together, these tales illustrate Bierce's cynical view of human nature and the complexities of familial ties, wrapped in a unique blend of humor and horror. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
|
| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
|
| Subject |
Short stories, American
|
| Subject |
Horror tales, American
|
| Subject |
Murderers -- Fiction
|
| Subject |
Parricide -- Fiction
|
| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
3715 |
| Release Date |
Feb 1, 2003 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Jan 8, 2021 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
150 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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