A brilliant author and satirist famous for his sardonic wit, Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?) remains one of the most colorful figures in American letters. He fought in the Civil War, worked as a journalist in both the United States and England, and produced such enduring works as The Devil's Dictionary and the classic short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge". In 1913, he disappeared into war-torn Mexico and is believed to have died there.

This book brings together, for the first time in one volume, all of Bierce's autobiographical writings; much of this material has never been reprinted...

A prolific journalist and author well known for his tales of horror and stories about the Civil War, Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?) was also a mordant commentator on the political, social, legal, and intellectual failings of his countrymen. Throughout his career, he remained an unapologetic curmudgeon who took a dim view of everything from trade unions and the temperance movement to Americans' insatiable thirst for money. Even the very principles of democracy did not escape his skeptical pen.

This volume brings together a generous sampling of Bierce's scathing fictional satires, many of which...