About the author

Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce (June 24, 1842 – circa 1914) was an American short story writer, journalist, poet, and Civil War veteran.

Bierce's book The Devil's Dictionary was named as one of "The 100 Greatest Masterpieces of American Literature" by the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration. His story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" has been described as "one of the most famous and frequently anthologized stories in American literature"; and his book Tales of Soldiers and Civilians (also published as In the Midst of Life) was named by the Grolier Club as one of the 100 most influential American books printed before 1900.

A prolific and versatile writer, Bierce was regarded as one of the most influential journalists in the United States, and as a pioneering writer of realist fiction. For his horror writing, Michael Dirda ranked him alongside Edgar Allan Poe and H. P. Lovecraft. His war stories influenced Stephen Crane, Ernest Hemingway, and others, and he was considered an influential and feared literary critic. In recent decades Bierce has gained wider respect as a fabulist and for his poetry.

In December 1913, Bierce traveled to Chihuahua, Mexico, to gain first-hand experience of the Mexican Revolution. He disappeared, and was rumored to be traveling with rebel troops. He was never seen again.

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The Affair at Coulter's Notch

Much of Bierce’s work revolves around the foolish idea of a glorious war, the idea that there is glory in death and violence. This theme can be seen in the title itself, it is a bloody violent battle but it is merely an ‘Affair’, as such occurrences are regular, everyday things. This is a story which focuses on the divide that the Civil War wreaked in America, tearing families and friendships apart.

In this story we follow a Union brigade as they push the retreating Confederate army deeper in to their own territory. The retreating army guards a perilous pass for which Captain Coulter, a Union soldier from a Southern family is sent to take.

It is a heart-breaking tale, fraught with brutal imagery much like Mel Gibson’s ‘Hacksaw Ridge’. Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914) was an American author, journalist, critic and soldier, best known for his works of horror and fiction. He was a truly talented writer whose ability was not bound to one genre. His works of horror draw honourable comparison to Edgar Allan Poe and H.P Lovecraft while his more humorous, satirical work draws the comparison to such literary greats as Jonathan Swift and Voltaire. Bierce’s ‘The Devils Dictionary’ has been named one of ‘The 100 Greatest Masterpieces of American Literature’. His war stories such as ‘An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge’ and ‘Tales of Soldiers and Civilians’ are amongst his best works and are said to have inspired Ernest Hemingway and Stephen Crane. Even Bierce’s end is as mysterious as one of his own tales, travelling to Mexico to cover the revolution first-hand but never being heard or seen from again.
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Edition
Printed pages5 Sider
Publish date14 Apr 2022
Published bySAGA Egmont
Languageeng
ISBN epub9788726701081