Ambrose Bierce
Ambrose Bierce was an American short story writer, journalist, poet, and Civil War veteran, best known for his satirical work 'The Devil's Dictionary' and his short story 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.'
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
-
1. Collected Writings
The Devil's Dictionary, Tales, and Memoirs
"Collected Writings" is an anthology that brings together the diverse and sardonic works of a prominent American writer known for his sharp wit and cynical view of human nature. The collection spans various genres, including satirical essays, short stories, and journalism, showcasing the author's mastery of dark humor and his fascination with the macabre. Among the most notable pieces are a satirical lexicon that lampoons social and political conventions, and a series of haunting tales that delve into the supernatural and the psychological. The compilation serves as a testament to the author's influential voice in American literature and his enduring legacy as a craftsman of incisive and often unsettling prose.
The 2623rd Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
2. The Devil's Dictionary
This book is a satirical lexicon that offers humorous and cynical definitions of common words and concepts, reflecting the author's sharp wit and critical view of human nature and society. Through its clever and often biting entries, the work exposes the absurdities and contradictions inherent in language and human behavior, providing a darkly comedic commentary on the foibles and follies of mankind. Each definition serves as a reflection on the complexities of life, revealing the author's skepticism and sardonic perspective on the world.
The 3638th Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Amazon -
3. Chickamauga
The story follows a young, deaf-mute boy who wanders away from his home and into the woods, where he becomes enthralled by the sights and sounds of nature. As he continues his exploration, he stumbles upon the aftermath of a brutal Civil War battle, witnessing the horrors of war firsthand. Unaware of the gravity of the situation, the boy is initially fascinated by the wounded soldiers and the chaotic scene. However, his innocence is shattered when he returns home to find his house in flames and his mother dead, forcing him to confront the grim realities of conflict and loss.
The 5043rd Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
4. The Death Of Halpin Frayser
The story follows Halpin Frayser, who experiences a terrifying encounter with the supernatural in a forest. After falling asleep beneath a tree, he dreams of a mysterious and ominous presence, which turns out to be the ghost of his deceased mother. The narrative intertwines themes of death, the supernatural, and the blurred line between dreams and reality, creating an eerie atmosphere as Frayser grapples with the haunting realization of his mother's vengeful spirit. The tale explores the psychological and emotional turmoil of confronting familial bonds beyond the grave.
The 5043rd Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
5. The Boarded Window
In this eerie tale set in the dense forests of the American frontier, a man lives a solitary existence in a cabin with a peculiar boarded window. The narrative delves into the man's past, revealing a heart-wrenching story of love, loss, and the supernatural. As the story unfolds, the reason behind the boarded window is disclosed, intertwining the man's fate with a chilling encounter that blurs the line between the living and the dead. This short story masterfully combines elements of horror and tragedy, showcasing the author's skill in creating a haunting atmosphere that lingers with the reader.
The 6545th Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Amazon -
6. The Complete Short Stories Of Ambrose Bierce
"The Complete Short Stories of Ambrose Bierce" is a collection of gripping and thought-provoking tales that showcase the author's mastery of the short story form. Bierce's stories delve into the dark recesses of the human psyche, exploring themes of war, death, and the supernatural. With his sharp wit and incisive writing style, Bierce crafts narratives that are both entertaining and deeply unsettling, leaving readers pondering the complexities of the human condition long after they have finished reading.
The 6846th Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
7. Can Such Things Be?
The Complete Short Stories of Ambrose Bierce
This collection of short stories and tales delves into the eerie and supernatural, exploring themes of fear, the unknown, and the macabre. Through a series of chilling narratives, the book presents a world where the boundaries between reality and the supernatural blur, often leading to unsettling and thought-provoking conclusions. The stories are characterized by their dark humor, unexpected twists, and a keen exploration of human nature's darker aspects, leaving readers to ponder the mysteries and horrors that might lurk just beyond the veil of the ordinary.
The 9373rd Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
8. Ghost And Horror Stories Of Ambrose Bierce
This collection features a series of chilling tales that delve into the supernatural and macabre, showcasing the dark and eerie imagination of the author. The stories explore themes of death, the afterlife, and the inexplicable, often blurring the line between reality and the supernatural. With a keen sense of irony and a penchant for unexpected twists, the narratives captivate readers with their haunting atmospheres and unsettling conclusions, leaving a lasting impression of dread and curiosity about the unknown.
The 9373rd Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
9. In The Midst Of Life
Tales of Soldiers and Civilians
The book is a collection of short stories that delve into the grim realities of war and the human condition, often highlighting the brutality and futility of conflict. Through vivid and sometimes unsettling narratives, the stories explore themes of death, fear, and the psychological turmoil experienced by soldiers and civilians alike. The author employs a sharp, satirical style to critique the romanticized notions of heroism and honor, instead presenting a stark, unflinching portrayal of the chaos and moral ambiguity inherent in wartime experiences.
The 9373rd Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org or Amazon -
10. An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is a haunting narrative about a Confederate sympathizer during the American Civil War, who is sentenced to death by hanging from the Owl Creek Bridge. As he awaits his fate, he slips into a profound daydream where he escapes his executioners and returns to his family. However, the story takes a sharp turn when it's revealed that his escape was merely a hallucination in the final moments before his death.
The 15897th Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Amazon -
11. Tongue Eater
The 17119th Greatest Book of All Time -
12. A Horseman In The Sky
A Union sentinel on a cliff during the Civil War spots a lone Confederate horseman below and, after recognizing the rider as his own father, faces an agonizing choice between familial loyalty and military duty; torn but determined to prevent discovery of his unit, he obeys orders and fires, with tragic emotional consequences.
The 17020th Greatest Book of All TimePurchase from Bookshop.org -
13. Civil War Stories
The Best of Ambrose Bierce
The book is a collection of short stories that vividly depict the harsh realities and psychological complexities of the American Civil War. Through a series of gripping narratives, it explores the experiences of soldiers and civilians, capturing the chaos, brutality, and moral ambiguities of war. The stories often feature unexpected twists and dark humor, reflecting the author's own experiences as a Union soldier. Themes of courage, fear, and the thin line between life and death are intricately woven throughout, offering a poignant and sometimes unsettling perspective on the human condition during one of America's most tumultuous periods.
-
14. Contos De Ambrose Bierce
This collection of short stories delves into the macabre and the mysterious, weaving tales that explore the darker aspects of human nature and the supernatural. Each story is crafted with a sharp wit and a keen sense of irony, often leading to unexpected and thought-provoking conclusions. The narratives are rich with vivid imagery and complex characters, drawing readers into a world where reality and the surreal intertwine, leaving them to ponder the thin line between sanity and madness.
Purchase from Bookshop.org -
15. Un Habitante De Carcosa Y Otros Relatos De Terror
Y Otros Relatos De Terror
This collection of chilling tales delves into the eerie and the supernatural, exploring the thin veil between the living and the dead. Each story is a masterful blend of suspense and horror, drawing readers into a world where reality is distorted and the unknown lurks in every shadow. With a keen eye for the macabre, the narratives weave together themes of existential dread, the fragility of life, and the haunting presence of the past, leaving readers with a lingering sense of unease and a deep appreciation for the art of storytelling.
Purchase from Bookshop.org -
16. ¿Pueden Suceder Tales Cosas? Cuentos Fantásticos Completos
Cuentos Fantásticos Completos
This collection of fantastical tales delves into the eerie and the supernatural, exploring the thin veil between reality and the unknown. Each story is a masterful blend of suspense and dark humor, often leaving readers questioning the nature of existence and the boundaries of human perception. With a keen eye for the macabre, the narratives weave through themes of death, madness, and the inexplicable, all while maintaining a sharp wit and a sense of irony. The stories challenge readers to ponder the possibilities of the unseen and the extraordinary lurking just beyond the ordinary world.
-
17. The City That Would Eat The World
A darkly comic allegory in which a ravenous metropolis expands by swallowing neighboring towns, nations, and even the lives of its citizens; its insatiable appetite stands for unchecked greed, industrial and imperial ambition, and the moral decay that accompanies relentless expansion, ultimately exposing how such voracity leads to ruin.
-
21. The Gorgon Incident And Other Stories
A compact collection of bleak, sardonic short tales that blend supernatural horror, macabre irony and dark humor; many pieces are rooted in war and frontier life and present grotesque encounters and uncanny phenomena that culminate in sharp, often grimly ironic twist endings, exposing human folly, mortality and societal absurdities in a spare, caustic prose voice.
-
25. An Inhabitant Of Carcosa
A lyrical, uncanny first-person narrative in which a man who claims to be from the ancient, decayed city of Carcosa wanders the world in a spectral, dislocated state. He recalls memory-fogged scenes of ruined halls, strange stars, and a vanished people, and as he moves through towns where others react to him with bewilderment or fear, the story closes on the chilling implication that he himself exists outside normal time or is already dead, blending elegiac atmosphere with subtle supernatural horror.
-
26. The Collected Works Of Ambrose Bierce, Volume 1
A trenchant collection of short fiction and essays that blend grim humor, sardonic satire, and vivid accounts of war and human folly. The pieces range from stark battlefield vignettes and caustic social commentary to eerie supernatural tales with abrupt, ironic conclusions, all rendered in economical prose and biting wit. The result is a compact, provocative body of work that unsettles as often as it entertains, exposing hypocrisy and the darker impulses beneath civilized life.
Purchase from Bookshop.org -
27. Dizionario Del Diavolo
A razor-sharp, satirical compendium that subverts the familiar form of a dictionary by offering pithy, cynical definitions and epigrams in place of neutral meanings; through dark humor and irony it exposes human folly, social hypocrisy, political corruption, and the absurdities of language and institutions, inviting readers to reconsider commonly accepted notions and revealing the contradictions of society with mordant wit.
