The Damned Thing
1898, From "In the Midst of Life"
In a cabin in the California hills, a coroner's jury sits over the mangled body of Hugh Morgan while a journalist, William Harker, testifies to what he saw: Morgan firing his shotgun at nothing, wrestling with nothing, screaming, and dying with wounds no visible attacker could have made. The jurors do not believe him. The coroner keeps Morgan's diary to himself, and its final pages, which close the story, offer an explanation drawn from the physics of light rather than from the supernatural. Bierce first published the tale in 1893 and collected it in In the Midst of Life in 1898. Told in four short sections with sardonic headings, it is one of the earliest stories of an invisible monster and an influence on later science fiction. Read it online in your browser on Vinteuil; the first chapter is free.
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Frequently asked questions about The Damned Thing
The Damned Thing by Ambrose Bierce can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Damned Thing online?
Yes. The Damned Thing opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Damned Thing free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Damned Thing is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Damned Thing in the public domain?
Yes. The Damned Thing by Ambrose Bierce is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Damned Thing?
About 14 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Damned Thing?
The Damned Thing by Ambrose Bierce is filed under "Short Stories" in the Vinteuil library.
