American writer George William Curtis' short story, "Titbottom's Spectacles," is a satircally humorous tale about a man who is bequeathed glasses which let him see people for who they really are--and the consequences thereof.

George William Curtis (1824 - 1892) was a traveler, essayist and fiction writer who was particularly renowned for his short stories. He combined a highly polished style with a great sense of humor and his works were enthusiastically received in the heydays of American periodical literature.