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The Devil’s Dictionary / Tales, & Memoirs
A veteran of some of the bloodiest battles of the civil War—among them Shiloh, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and Kennesaw Mountain—Ambrose Bierce went on to become one of the darkest and most death-haunted of American writers, the blackest of black humorists. A prolific journalist who made himself a dominant figure in the emerging literary culture of postwar san Francisco, Bierce developed a style of slashing sarcasm that made him a feared antagonist. As a short story writer—whether drawing on wartime experiences or exploring realms of supernatural and psychological horror—he used extreme situations to give voice to his uniquely engrossing brand of pessimism.
This volume gathers the most celebrated and significant of Bierce’s writings. In the Midst of Life (Tales of Soldiers and Civilians), his collection of short fiction about the Civil War, which includes the masterpieces “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” and “Chickamauga,” is suffused with a fiercely ironic sense of the horror and randomness of war. Close-up portraits of life in camp and on the battlefield offer unique, often startling, perspectives on the war whose after-echoes pervade Bierce’s writing.
Can Such Things Be? brings together “The Death of Halpin Frayser,” “The Damned Thing,” “The Moonlit Road,” and other tales of terror that make Bierce the genre’s most significant American practitioner between Poe and Lovecraft. These tales are notable, in editor S. T. Joshi’s words, for “the meticulous etching of the precise effects of the supernatural upon the sensitive consciousness of his fear-raddled protagonists.”
The Devil’s Dictionary, the brilliant lexicon of subversively cynical definitions on which Bierce worked for decades, displays to the full his corrosive wit.
In Bits of Autobiography, the series of memoirs that includes the memorable “What I Saw of Shiloh,” he recreates his experiences in the war and its aftermath. The volume is rounded out with a selection of the best stories not gathered in the two major collections. Acclaimed Bierce scholar Joshi provides detailed notes and a newly researched chronology of Bierce’s life and mysterious disappearance.
This volume gathers the most celebrated and significant of Bierce’s writings. In the Midst of Life (Tales of Soldiers and Civilians), his collection of short fiction about the Civil War, which includes the masterpieces “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” and “Chickamauga,” is suffused with a fiercely ironic sense of the horror and randomness of war. Close-up portraits of life in camp and on the battlefield offer unique, often startling, perspectives on the war whose after-echoes pervade Bierce’s writing.
Can Such Things Be? brings together “The Death of Halpin Frayser,” “The Damned Thing,” “The Moonlit Road,” and other tales of terror that make Bierce the genre’s most significant American practitioner between Poe and Lovecraft. These tales are notable, in editor S. T. Joshi’s words, for “the meticulous etching of the precise effects of the supernatural upon the sensitive consciousness of his fear-raddled protagonists.”
The Devil’s Dictionary, the brilliant lexicon of subversively cynical definitions on which Bierce worked for decades, displays to the full his corrosive wit.
In Bits of Autobiography, the series of memoirs that includes the memorable “What I Saw of Shiloh,” he recreates his experiences in the war and its aftermath. The volume is rounded out with a selection of the best stories not gathered in the two major collections. Acclaimed Bierce scholar Joshi provides detailed notes and a newly researched chronology of Bierce’s life and mysterious disappearance.
864 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2011
28 people are currently reading
665 people want to read
About the author
Ambrose Bierce
2,425 books1,299 followersdied perhaps 1914
Caustic wit and a strong sense of horror mark works, including In the Midst of Life (1891-1892) and The Devil's Dictionary (1906), of American writer Ambrose Gwinett Bierce.
People today best know this editorialist, journalist, and fabulist for his short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge and his lexicon.
The informative sardonic view of human nature alongside his vehemence as a critic with his motto, "nothing matters," earned him the nickname "Bitter Bierce."
People knew Bierce despite his reputation as a searing critic, however, to encourage younger poet George Sterling and fiction author W.C. Morrow.
Bierce employed a distinctive style especially in his stories. This style often embraces an abrupt beginning, dark imagery, vague references to time, limited descriptions, the theme of war, and impossible events.
Bierce disappeared in December 1913 at the age of 71 years. People think that he traveled to Mexico to gain a firsthand perspective on ongoing revolution of that country.
Theories abound on a mystery, ultimate fate of Bierce. He in one of his final letters stated: "Good-bye. If you hear of my being stood up against a Mexican stone wall and shot to rags, please know that I think it is a pretty good way to depart this life. It beats old age, disease, or falling down the cellar stairs. To be a Gringo in Mexico--ah, that is euthanasia!"
Caustic wit and a strong sense of horror mark works, including In the Midst of Life (1891-1892) and The Devil's Dictionary (1906), of American writer Ambrose Gwinett Bierce.
People today best know this editorialist, journalist, and fabulist for his short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge and his lexicon.
The informative sardonic view of human nature alongside his vehemence as a critic with his motto, "nothing matters," earned him the nickname "Bitter Bierce."
People knew Bierce despite his reputation as a searing critic, however, to encourage younger poet George Sterling and fiction author W.C. Morrow.
Bierce employed a distinctive style especially in his stories. This style often embraces an abrupt beginning, dark imagery, vague references to time, limited descriptions, the theme of war, and impossible events.
Bierce disappeared in December 1913 at the age of 71 years. People think that he traveled to Mexico to gain a firsthand perspective on ongoing revolution of that country.
Theories abound on a mystery, ultimate fate of Bierce. He in one of his final letters stated: "Good-bye. If you hear of my being stood up against a Mexican stone wall and shot to rags, please know that I think it is a pretty good way to depart this life. It beats old age, disease, or falling down the cellar stairs. To be a Gringo in Mexico--ah, that is euthanasia!"
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 5, 2018
I’ve been happily dipping into this compulsively readable volume for months. The Devil’s Dictionary has been a favorite for years. It’s great to see it collected together in this handsome edition along with Bierce’s dark, often grimly humorous stories. A fine example is “Parker Adderson, Philosopher”. If you look up Bierce’s definition of “philosophy” in The Devil’s Dictionary and then read that story, it will have greater resonance. But you must have a dark sense of humor, otherwise most of the contents of this book will only disturb you. Of course, there are pieces that clearly have no humorous or even ironic aim. I think “Chickamauga” and the “The Moonlit Road”, for instance, are meant to unsettle the reader. That should make you curious. Your curiosity will be rewarded.
January 29, 2016
This collection of wonderful stories by Ambrose Bierce- American civil war veteran, journalist, poet, short story writer, satirist...) is at turns haunting, scary, and extremely witty. I was completely gripped by his first person observations of the war and O. Henry-ish endings, and appreciated the humor of many of the definitions on the Devil's dictionary.
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August 23, 2019After having read the book The Old Gringo by Carlos Fuentes, I wanted to read some of the work of Ambrose Bierce. It certainly provided an interesting backdrop for Fuentes' book.
February 29, 2016
Absolutely amazing collection, amazing material from horror to war stories. Extremely inventive, thoughtful, that it is overwhelming to read but with such variety it is a joy to see what he would come up with next. Its organized very well and with some great notes about when the pieces were published as well as decent biographical information.
June 25, 2017
I do not recall where I first ran across the name of Ambrose Bierce, but I am glad I did. He is a hidden American literary treasure from the second half of the 19th century.
This Library of America volume contains his masterpiece, "The Devil's Dictionary ", a witty, sarcastic, and sometimes cynical commentary on human nature. Some examples include:"Frog-a reptile with edible legs", "Friendship-a ship big enough to carry two in fair weather, but only one in foul", and "Hand-a singular instrument worn at the end of the human arm and commonly thrust into somebody's pocket."
The volume also contains many short stories which include an ounce of O'Henry, a pinch of Poe, a splash of Serling, and a touch of Twain. His best are those about soldiers in the Civil War and those bits of autobiography about Civil War battles, both showing insights not seen by historians I have read.
I did not find his stories about the supernatural as appealing but all of them were richly descriptive.
The final story is an outstanding satire of America in the late 19th century.
Bierce's real life story ends like some of his stories: he simply disappeared somewhere in Mexico and no one knows what happened to him.
This Library of America volume contains his masterpiece, "The Devil's Dictionary ", a witty, sarcastic, and sometimes cynical commentary on human nature. Some examples include:"Frog-a reptile with edible legs", "Friendship-a ship big enough to carry two in fair weather, but only one in foul", and "Hand-a singular instrument worn at the end of the human arm and commonly thrust into somebody's pocket."
The volume also contains many short stories which include an ounce of O'Henry, a pinch of Poe, a splash of Serling, and a touch of Twain. His best are those about soldiers in the Civil War and those bits of autobiography about Civil War battles, both showing insights not seen by historians I have read.
I did not find his stories about the supernatural as appealing but all of them were richly descriptive.
The final story is an outstanding satire of America in the late 19th century.
Bierce's real life story ends like some of his stories: he simply disappeared somewhere in Mexico and no one knows what happened to him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2018
A narrow and dark lane in downtown San Francisco is named after Ambrose Bierce who lived and worked here as a reporter after the Civil War. Although many point to his ghost story and somewhat witty devil's dictionary pieces as his signature; his war short fiction and autobiographical journalisitc war pieces - including the stunning What I Saw of Shiloh - have a force, style and feeling you find in The Iliad, Red Badge of Courage, the WWI literature, Hemingway and in one piece (Coup de Grace), Catch-22. I found a NYT blog about his wartime work I liked as a summary of why the writing is so important
https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com...
As a San Franciscan I enjoyed also some of the lighter stories ( the ghoulish - occasionally tiresome - ghost stories are sweet compared to the real war narratives) when they mention streets of the city and how they looked then and its inhabitants. Speaking of ghoulish, "Oil of Dog" will remind you of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd.
Some critics call him a foreruner or influence on later authors who wrote about war; true, but he's good in his own right from a style period he had to wrench into saying something different.
https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com...
As a San Franciscan I enjoyed also some of the lighter stories ( the ghoulish - occasionally tiresome - ghost stories are sweet compared to the real war narratives) when they mention streets of the city and how they looked then and its inhabitants. Speaking of ghoulish, "Oil of Dog" will remind you of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd.
Some critics call him a foreruner or influence on later authors who wrote about war; true, but he's good in his own right from a style period he had to wrench into saying something different.
November 28, 2021
I don't know why people read Poe or Crane or--God help me--Longfellow, but don't read Ambrose Bierce. Maybe because if they did, they would want to rip their hearts out after each story. A Union cannoneer who bombards his own house, with wife and child inside? A Confederate saboteur who imagines a whole life ahead of him as he is about to be hanged off the side of a bridge. These are amazingly intense, gut-wrenching stories with each word as bitter and concentrated as day-old espresso. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the short story and/or U.S. history.
November 9, 2020
Some of the greatest short stories imaginable, like combining the thrill of Lovecraft with the wit of O. Henry.
The Devil's Dictionary offers a cynical, crude, and often hilarious view of society, politics, and religion. Dr. Johnson introduced bias to dictionaries, but Bierce perfected the dictionary as a form of satire.
The Devil's Dictionary offers a cynical, crude, and often hilarious view of society, politics, and religion. Dr. Johnson introduced bias to dictionaries, but Bierce perfected the dictionary as a form of satire.
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January 30, 2022ამბროზ ბირსი შეიძლება ერთი შეხედვით საერთოდაც არიყოს მაღალი დონის მწერალი, არც ეს წიგნი იყოს შეიძლება რაიმე ფენომენალური, მაგრამ როგორც ყველა ეპოქას თუ დროს გააჩნია საკუთარი ლიტერატურული გამოძახილი, ეს წიგნიც ამერიკული სამოქალაქო ომის სულით არის განჟღეთილი. ალბათ სწორედ დიდი კულტურული და სოციალური ცვლილების გამო გახდა ამერიკაში ეს წიგნი პოპულალური.
July 24, 2022
Contains a terrific survey of Bierce’s civil war recollection and short stories, ghost and folk tales, and the brilliant “The Devil’s Dictionary.”
Note: must be able to tolerate some coarse racial language and attitude of the time. Still allowing for that, a rewarding volume edited by S T Joshi.
Note: must be able to tolerate some coarse racial language and attitude of the time. Still allowing for that, a rewarding volume edited by S T Joshi.
June 18, 2018
Such a fun reading. Very creative.
December 18, 2020
Snarky. Pithy. Ribald. Ambrose Bierce was one of the wittiest and most adventuresome writers of his day. Perhaps he will receive a true biography and biographer some day.
September 6, 2023
To know to do right and to not do it.
November 24, 2023
An absorbing, collection of his prolific works that you can dip in and out of at your leisure and pleasure…
March 10, 2014
Ambrose Bierce was truly a gifted writer. I marvel at his use of vocabulary. Never before have I experienced the horror of war as portrayed by Bierce, himself a veteran of some of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. However, I soon tired of his short stories and his collection of cynicisms; expertly written but each with its unique and upsetting "quirk of fate" ending. During his day he was known as “Bitter Bierce”, a writer of dark insights and savage wit. His “The Devil’s Dictionary”, is brilliant but for me his corrosive wit can only be taken in small doses.
I was unable to finish this book.
I was unable to finish this book.
February 4, 2021
An absolutely amazing edition of this fantastic American writer
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews