Tales of Soldiers and Civilians -The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce Vol. II

Name: Tales of Soldiers and Civilians -The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce Vol. II
Price: 16.48 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781387088966

✍️ Ambrose Bierce

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

$16.48

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A collection of Ambrose Bierce's satirical works featuring The Devil's Dictionary and experimental short stories.

Ambrose Bierce edited the twelve volumes of his collected works, published between 1909 and 1912. This specific volume contains material from the seventh part of that series, which is solely devoted to The Devil's Dictionary. His contemporaries often criticized him for pursuing improbability and relying on trick endings. Later scholars note that he aimed to shock audiences and undermine their intellectual confidence. The text exhibits a Naturalist bias, marked by satire that shows no pity for its subjects. Stephen Crane recognized the value in Bierce's experimental approach, unlike many other reviewers of the time.

Key Themes

The Devil's Dictionary Naturalism trick endings

Literary Context

Bierce edited twelve volumes of his collected works, published from 1909 to 1912. His contemporaries criticized his style, while Stephen Crane valued his experimental short stories. The work reflects a Naturalist bias and aims to shock the audience by attacking their intellectual security.

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Stephen Crane · Guy de Maupassant · H.P. Lovecraft

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Lulu.com 📅 2017 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781387088966

📝 Description: Tales of Soldiers and Civilians -The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce Vol. II

This volume presents the second installment of Ambrose Bierce’s collected works, offering readers a concentrated look at his sharp satirical voice. The text includes the famous section known as The Devil's Dictionary, which stands alone within the broader seven-volume structure of his published collection. Bierce’s writing is characterized by a deliberate pursuit of improbability and a distinct preference for trick endings that challenge reader expectations. The stories in this edition reflect a strong bias toward Naturalism, often displaying a biting and deriding quality that lacks compassion for its targets. This approach has led critics to view his work as showing contempt for humanity and an intolerance that borders on merciless cruelty. The narratives appear influenced by Maupassant, with Bierce dedicating himself to shocking the audience and attacking their smug intellectual security. While many contemporaries criticized this style, Stephen Crane was among the minority who valued Bierce’s experimental short stories. This book suits readers interested in early American Naturalism and satirical fiction that provokes discomfort. It may not appeal to those seeking gentle narratives or traditional moral resolutions. The collection remains a significant artifact of late nineteenth-century literary experimentation.

💎 Our verdict on Tales of Soldiers and Civilians -The Collected Works of Ambrose Bierce Vol. II

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Bierce’s collection delivers a masterclass in satirical fiction, utilizing Naturalist bias to strip away pity and expose the harsher realities of human nature. The inclusion of The Devil's Dictionary alongside experimental short stories creates a cohesive yet provocative experience that undermines intellectual confidence. While contemporaries often criticized this approach for its improbability, modern readers can appreciate the deliberate shock value and deriding tone. This book suits those who enjoy psychological horror and dark satire that refuses to offer easy answers. It is a challenging but rewarding read for enthusiasts of late nineteenth-century literary innovation and authors like Crane who valued such bold experimentation.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

This volume is essential for readers who appreciate sharp, satirical voices that prioritize shocking the audience over offering gentle narratives or traditional moral resolutions. It appeals to those interested in early American Naturalism and satirical fiction that provokes discomfort by undermining intellectual security. The collection offers a concentrated look at Ambrose Bierce’s deliberate pursuit of improbability and trick endings, which serve to challenge reader expectations. Those who enjoy literary experimentation that lacks compassion for its targets will find value here. It is not suitable for those seeking comfort or pity, but rather for readers willing to engage with content that displays contempt for humanity and attacks smugness through biting derision.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Bierce’s collection delivers a masterclass in satirical fiction, utilizing Naturalist bias to strip away pity and expose the harsher realities of human nature. The inclusion of The Devil's Dictionary alongside experimental short stories creates a cohesive yet provocative experience that undermines intellectual confidence. While contemporaries often criticized this approach for its improbability, modern readers can appreciate the deliberate shock value and deriding tone. This book suits those who enjoy psychological horror and dark satire that refuses to offer easy answers. It is a challenging but rewarding read for enthusiasts of late nineteenth-century literary innovation and authors like Crane who valued such bold experimentation.