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The Bastard
"The Bastard is a con man, motivated by money and bragging rights, becoming whoever he needs to be as a means to those ends. Confidence, intuition, and research are a con man’s specialties, and indeed when the Bastard shows up to Farmer Wilson’s door he is armed with all those things, plus information, whiskey, and charm. These are materials of a masterful storyteller, and though you’ll have to bring your own whiskey, DeWitt is equally armed. With his assured, ventriloquist prose, DeWitt is a kind of law-abiding con man, able to convince us, on a basic gut level, of outlandish scenarios and outsized personalities." - Halimah Marcus, Editor-in-Chief, Electric Literature's Recommended Reading
About the Author: Patrick deWitt is the author of the critically acclaimed Ablutions: Notes for a Novel, as well as The Sisters Brothers, which was short-listed for the Booker Prize. Born in British Columbia, he has also lived in California and Washington, and now resides in Portland, Oregon. His newest novel is Undermajordomo Minor.
About the Publisher: Electric Literature is an independent publisher amplifying the power of storytelling through digital innovation. Electric Literature’s weekly fiction magazine, Recommended Reading, invites established authors, indie presses, and literary magazines to recommended great fiction. Once a month we feature our own recommendation of original, previously unpublished fiction.
About the Author: Patrick deWitt is the author of the critically acclaimed Ablutions: Notes for a Novel, as well as The Sisters Brothers, which was short-listed for the Booker Prize. Born in British Columbia, he has also lived in California and Washington, and now resides in Portland, Oregon. His newest novel is Undermajordomo Minor.
About the Publisher: Electric Literature is an independent publisher amplifying the power of storytelling through digital innovation. Electric Literature’s weekly fiction magazine, Recommended Reading, invites established authors, indie presses, and literary magazines to recommended great fiction. Once a month we feature our own recommendation of original, previously unpublished fiction.
21 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
36 people are currently reading
1079 people want to read
About the author
Patrick deWitt
22 books2,643 followersPatrick deWitt is the author of the novels French Exit (a national bestseller), The Sisters Brothers (a New York Times bestseller short-listed for the Booker Prize), and the critically acclaimed Undermajordomo Minor and Ablutions. Born in British Columbia, he now resides in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 16, 2018
What’s this – Patrick DeWitty-Man wrote a story about yours truly?! It’s ok guys, you can protect your sides – they won’t split as I can’t keep up this pace (DAT’S WOT SHE SEZ..>!#!) – but looks: a short story about a bastard called The Bastard. Where do writers get their ideas eh?
The Bastard waltzes into small town America in the days when horses was cars and preys on a young and pretty farmer’s daughter. But what’s he really up to, see?
It’s an amusing lil yarn that chuntles along nicely – DeWitt’s writing is as slick and effortlessly easy to read as always – and I like a good bad boy (oh the juxtapwhajamacalit!). I did hope for a more inventive ending though. You see what’s what a mile off and it’s a bit underwhelming that the Bastard and his motivations didn’t turn out to be more interesting given the quality build-up.
I also like that the editor’s intro mentions that they’re giving this story away for free but the only place it’s available is on Amazon for monies (unless you pirate it)! I understand, editor man, the filthy lucre stains us all…
I love Patrick DeWitt’s books and, if like me you can’t wait for French Exit later this summer, The Bastard will suffice to tide you over until we can all nerdy out over that one!
The Bastard waltzes into small town America in the days when horses was cars and preys on a young and pretty farmer’s daughter. But what’s he really up to, see?
It’s an amusing lil yarn that chuntles along nicely – DeWitt’s writing is as slick and effortlessly easy to read as always – and I like a good bad boy (oh the juxtapwhajamacalit!). I did hope for a more inventive ending though. You see what’s what a mile off and it’s a bit underwhelming that the Bastard and his motivations didn’t turn out to be more interesting given the quality build-up.
I also like that the editor’s intro mentions that they’re giving this story away for free but the only place it’s available is on Amazon for monies (unless you pirate it)! I understand, editor man, the filthy lucre stains us all…
I love Patrick DeWitt’s books and, if like me you can’t wait for French Exit later this summer, The Bastard will suffice to tide you over until we can all nerdy out over that one!
May 21, 2019
Short little piece that’s certainly fitting: you zip through it, and then at the end you say, “Oh, what a bastard!”
January 3, 2022
Short story from Electric Literature's Recommended Reading. https://electricliterature.com/the-ba...
April 5, 2026
An early short story from one of my favourite authors. Dewitt's style isn't quite ironed out here but there is enough of his DNA for fans to find this one enjoyable. The Bastard is a fun campfire tale full of larger than life characters, witty dialogue and a sombre narrator. Guess what? He really IS a bastard!
March 29, 2020
This was totally fine, but it was definitely The Sisters Brothers junior.
May 2, 2020
Very brief
Interesting story, certainly didn't go where I thought it would. If you've liked his other stories this one is a good short one.
Interesting story, certainly didn't go where I thought it would. If you've liked his other stories this one is a good short one.
March 5, 2022
A very provocative short story. The Bastard certainly lives up to his name.
September 18, 2020
This is definitely a short story about a bastard. Loved every second of it.
July 31, 2017
A great little companion piece to the best of DeWitt's novels. The fact that it is free and so good makes me feel like I'm the protagonist of the story. Loved it!
September 9, 2025
This was a quick, enthralling little read. I had to buy the e-book of short stories of which this story was one. I spent $5.
With that said, might have been the best $5 I’ve spent in a while and that’s saying a lot because I’ve been spending $4.50 on peanut M&Ms & and Snickers at work a lot lately .. and I love them. Been big-backin’ on them suckers.
I wish there was a longer version of this story, a full book.
Love you. Cya.
With that said, might have been the best $5 I’ve spent in a while and that’s saying a lot because I’ve been spending $4.50 on peanut M&Ms & and Snickers at work a lot lately .. and I love them. Been big-backin’ on them suckers.
I wish there was a longer version of this story, a full book.
Love you. Cya.
January 2, 2026
Having read three of Patrick DeWitt's novels, THE SISTER BROTHERS, FRENCH EXIT and UNDERMAJOR DOMOMINOR I decided to check out this short story on Kindle (The Bastard). A light a very brief read and a good con artist tale.
January 18, 2019
Very in line with his style of writing. An excellent short story with some good dark twists. DeWitt nails it again!
March 31, 2019
3.5 stars
Yes he is!
Yes he is!
January 27, 2020
A great short story!
February 17, 2020
Not exactly a book, but a brilliant little short story. Read it in a couple of hours.
The bastard is such a bastard.
The bastard is such a bastard.
January 13, 2023
Great precursor to The Sisters Brothers.
February 13, 2023
A short story begets a short review.
Quickly read, quickly enjoyed.
Quickly read, quickly enjoyed.
March 10, 2023
A quick little gem of a short story.
March 10, 2017
Worth the read.
Started out as excellent. Had enough of the 'stuff' I love about deWitt to enjoy the read. I agree with other review, more western please Mr. deWitt!
Started out as excellent. Had enough of the 'stuff' I love about deWitt to enjoy the read. I agree with other review, more western please Mr. deWitt!
July 6, 2020
Short story, ok, a bit predictable.
September 22, 2016
Fun and short
Nice little short story. Really hoping DeWitt does another western sometime down the road. Not much time for character development but yet we still understand why he's called the bastard come the end :)
Nice little short story. Really hoping DeWitt does another western sometime down the road. Not much time for character development but yet we still understand why he's called the bastard come the end :)
October 31, 2017
Solid short story
Quick and to the point. Don't expect the Bastard to be anything but that. I'll read anything deWitt puts out.
Quick and to the point. Don't expect the Bastard to be anything but that. I'll read anything deWitt puts out.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews