“The Man from the Nose” is a short story from the civilian section of Ambrose Bierce’s In the Midst of Life: Tales of Soldiers and Civilians. Like the other tales from this collection, “The Man from the Nose” features a protagonist who is in the prime of his life, when a sudden event shatters his hopes and dreams. The themes of honesty versus dishonesty and integrity versus dishonor are also important.

A troubled and talented man, Bierce was the master of the surprise ending. At the end of this tale, you may find yourself questioning the motives of the dedicated and faithful wife. As with the rest of the Bierce's stories, the questions and characters presented in “The Man from the Nose” will remain on your mind long after you have stopped listening.