Synopses & Reviews
Ambrose Bierce wrote stories so dramatically different from those of his contemporaries that they hardly seem like they were written in the nineteenth century. These original and innovative tales, most of which appeared in the 1880s and 1890s, constitute 23 examples of his best and most characteristic short fiction: anti-war satires that underscore the barbarism and futility of bloodshed; horror stories with a keenly ironic edge; and sardonic "tall tales" of the Old West.
The American Civil War was the defining experience of Bierce's life, and the battlefield ordeals from his service within the Union army contributed to his distinctive brand of cynical realism. This collection boasts the best of his Civil War tales, including "Chickamauga," "A Horseman in the Sky," and the author's much-imitated masterpiece, "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." Writers of mystery and suspense stories have long been influenced by Bierce's tales of the supernatural such as "The Moonlit Road," and "The Eyes of the Panther." This anthology also features "Oil of Dog," "My Favorite Murder," and other satirical fables that continue to captivate readers with their humor and ingenuity.
Synopsis
This modestly priced volume includes 23 stories in all many of Bierce's best, from the Civil War classic "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" to the renowned horror tale "The Moonlit Road."
Synopsis
Ambrose Bierce's original and innovative stories differed dramatically from those of his 19th-century contemporaries. These 23 tales include his best and most characteristic short fiction: anti-war satires that underscore the barbarism of bloodshed, horror stories with keenly ironic edge, and sardonic "tall tales" of the Old West.
About the Author
Journalist, short story writer, and satirist Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914) was equally adept in a variety of genres, from ghost stories to poetry to political commentary. Bierce's fiction is particularly distinguished by its realistic depictions of the author's Civil War experiences.
Table of Contents
Civil War Stories
A Horseman in the Sky
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
Chickamauga
One of the Missing
Killed at Resaca
One Kind of Officer
The Major's Tale
The Story of a Conscience
An Affair of Outposts
Horror Stories
A Watcher by the Dead
The Man and the Snake
A Holy Terror
The Middle Toe of the Right Foot
The Damned Thing
The Death of Halpin Frayser
The Moonlit Road
The Stranger
The Eyes of the Panther
Beyond the Wall
Tall Tales
An Imperfect Conflagration
Oil of Dog
My Favorite Murder
The Hypnotist