🩸 Horror Fiction

Can Such Things Be?

✍️ Ambrose Bierce
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$23.95
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A 2004 facsimile reprint of Ambrose Bierce's scarce antiquarian horror collection.

Kessinger Publishing released this edition on June 17, 2004, to preserve a culturally important work. The book is a high quality modern reprint that stays true to the original text. It includes visible signs of age such as marginalia and flawed pages. This approach allows readers to experience the authentic texture of early American Gothic fiction. The publisher aims to protect and promote world literature by making scarce texts available. Ambrose Bierce’s contributions to horror and supernatural genres are central to this volume. The physical format is a book with ISBN 9781419111730. It serves as a resource for those studying the history of dark fiction. The edition does not attempt to hide its antiquarian nature but rather displays it openly.

Key Themes
scarce antiquarian literature American Gothic fiction supernatural storytelling traditions
Literary Context

This 2004 reprint by Kessinger Publishing preserves a scarce work from the early era of American horror. It highlights the publisher's role in protecting and promoting world literature through affordable, high quality editions that remain true to the original cultural context.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
H.P. Lovecraft · Edgar Allan Poe · Shirley Jackson · Robert Aickman
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Kessinger Publishing 📅 2004 📖 152 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781419111730

📝 Description: Can Such Things Be?

This volume presents a facsimile reprint of Ambrose Bierce’s work, published by Kessinger Publishing in June 2004. The text remains true to the original edition, preserving its historical integrity for modern readers who appreciate classic horror and supernatural fiction. Bierce is known for his sharp wit and dark tales, making this collection a relevant addition to any gothic library. The book contains marks, notations, marginalia, and flawed pages due to its age. These imperfections are visible in the facsimile, offering an authentic glimpse into the past. This edition is suitable for collectors of rare literature and scholars studying American Gothic traditions. It may not appeal to readers seeking pristine, modern typography or those who prefer contemporary horror styles over vintage aesthetics. The commitment to protecting world literature ensures that such scarce antiquarian books remain accessible. High quality materials are used to maintain the physical durability of the reprint while honoring the original work's cultural importance. Readers interested in the evolution of supernatural fiction will find value in this direct reproduction.

💎 Our verdict on Can Such Things Be?

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Bierce’s collection delivers a potent dose of cynical supernaturalism, capturing the eerie atmosphere of late nineteenth-century American Gothic. The facsimile format is executed with care, preserving the original text’s integrity while openly displaying the book’s age through visible marginalia and page flaws. This transparency enhances the reading experience for purists who value historical authenticity over pristine typography. While contemporary horror fans might find the vintage aesthetic jarring, aficionados of classic ghost stories will appreciate the unmediated access to Bierce’s dark wit. The physical reproduction honors the work’s cultural importance, making it a durable and honest artifact. It succeeds in its goal of promoting world literature by keeping scarce texts available, offering a genuine glimpse into the past for those willing to look beyond the wear and tear of history.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

This volume serves as a vital resource for scholars and collectors dedicated to the history of dark fiction, offering an unvarnished look at early American Gothic traditions. Readers who appreciate the authentic texture of antiquarian texts will find value in experiencing Bierce’s sharp wit and cynical tone without the filter of modern editorial intervention. The facsimile approach appeals to those who view physical imperfections—such as marginalia and aged pages—as integral components of the literary experience rather than flaws to be corrected. It is essential for anyone studying the evolution of supernatural fiction or seeking a direct connection to the origins of psychological horror. By maintaining historical integrity, this book allows enthusiasts to engage with the raw, unpolished atmosphere that defined Bierce’s contributions to the genre, ensuring these scarce works remain accessible to a new generation of dark literature aficionados.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Bierce’s collection delivers a potent dose of cynical supernaturalism, capturing the eerie atmosphere of late nineteenth-century American Gothic. The facsimile format is executed with care, preserving the original text’s integrity while openly displaying the book’s age through visible marginalia and page flaws. This transparency enhances the reading experience for purists who value historical authenticity over pristine typography. While contemporary horror fans might find the vintage aesthetic jarring, aficionados of classic ghost stories will appreciate the unmediated access to Bierce’s dark wit. The physical reproduction honors the work’s cultural importance, making it a durable and honest artifact. It succeeds in its goal of promoting world literature by keeping scarce texts available, offering a genuine glimpse into the past for those willing to look beyond the wear and tear of history.

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