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Overview
Ambrose Bierce was born in 1842 and mysteriously disappeared in 1914. During his lifetime, he was a controversial and prolific writer, and there is growing interest in his works. As a Union soldier during the Civil War, he witnessed bloodshed and the atrocities of battle. After the war, he began a career as a journalist in San Francisco, where many of his newspaper columns were filled with venom and daring. In addition, he wrote war stories and tales of the supernatural, along with an assortment of poems. Today, he is probably best remembered as the author of The Devil's Dictionary, originally published as The Cynic's Dictionary in 1906. This reference is a guide to his life and writings.
An opening essay overviews Bierce's contribution to literature and journalism, and a chronology summarizes the most important events in his life. The bulk of the Companion comprises alphabetically arranged entries on Bierce's major works and characters and on historical persons and writers who figured prominently in his life and career. Thus the volume provides coverage of Bierce's contemporaries, many of whom he satirized in his scathing newspaper columns. Many of the entries list works for further reading, and the book closes with a selected, general bibliography. Because of Bierce's concern with so many issues of his day, the volume offers a valuable perspective on American culture during the time in which he lived.
Synopsis
Offers several hundred alphabetically arranged entries on works, characters, and historical persons central to Bierce's life and writings.
Library Journal
Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914) is one of America's best satirists, though his Juvenalian bent leaves him much less popular than figures like Mark Twain or Ring Lardner. Gale (emeritus, English, Univ. of Pittsburgh) believes that Bierce is not just one of our best writers but that he is a "towering figure" whose importance has yet to be fully appreciated. Here he covers "90 percent of Bierce's really valuable publications" (short stories, poems, essays, etc.) as well as the people in his life. There is some commentary and interpretation (such as a defense against the charge that Bierce was anti-Semitic), but most of these alphabetical entries are simply summaries of the plots of stories and poems and themes of essays. Many entries include short bibliographies, and there is also a general bibliography, a chronology of Bierce's life, and an interesting preface. Deeper critical analysis would have improved this compilation, but libraries with good American literature collections should definitely purchase it, despite its high price. Peter Dollard, Alma Coll. Lib., MI Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.