Ambrose Bierce was of prime military age when the Civil War began, and he at once enlisted in an Indiana regiment of infantry. He fought bravely in some of the bloodiest battles of the war, including Shiloh, which marked him emotionally for life. After the war he became a writer of short stories, including “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” a perennial favorite in later anthologies of the genre. To pay the rent he practiced journalism, both regular reporting and columns of opinion and humor.
Thank you for sharing this underappreciated genius with your readers. Ever since I read and was shocked by, Chickmagua when I was in elementary school, Bierce has been one of my favorite American authors. When anyone wants to know more about his writing I would describe it as "Poe meets Twain". I've gleaned many a quote from the Devils Dictionary ;)
I agree with what C Mac says. I'm a retired English prof and as Dr. Brands points out, "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is a classic and is often anthologized. I was first introduced to Bierce in my late teens when his classic horror story "The Damned Thing" was anthologized in a collelction of horror fiction.
Thank you for sharing this underappreciated genius with your readers. Ever since I read and was shocked by, Chickmagua when I was in elementary school, Bierce has been one of my favorite American authors. When anyone wants to know more about his writing I would describe it as "Poe meets Twain". I've gleaned many a quote from the Devils Dictionary ;)
collelction - sorry, collection I always told my students "proof your text!" However, I often forget to do it myself. Mea culpa!
I agree with what C Mac says. I'm a retired English prof and as Dr. Brands points out, "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is a classic and is often anthologized. I was first introduced to Bierce in my late teens when his classic horror story "The Damned Thing" was anthologized in a collelction of horror fiction.