Author Biography

Ambrose Bierce

(June 24,1842–?)Ohio-born writer and journalist In 1913, Bierce traveled to Mexico to gain a firsthand perspective on that country's ongoing revolution. While traveling with rebel troops, the elderly writer disappeared without a trace. Acclaimed for his Civil War and supernatural stories, as well as for his legendary wit. Bierce suffered no fools, spared no enemies, and spat in the face of man-made gods and those who prayed to them. His definition of astrology: "The science of making the dupe see stars." Except for H. L. Mencken, Bierce's intellectual heir, there's never been a man of letters like Ambrose Bierce. His fate is not only a mystery, but he remains an enigma. Today, he is best known for his short story, "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” and his satirical lexicon, “The Devil’s Dictionary” The sardonic view of human nature that informed his work — along with his vehemence as a critic— earned him the nickname "Bitter Bierce". Despite his reputation as a searing critic, however, Bierce was known to encourage younger writers, including poet George Stirling and fiction writer W.C. Morrow

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