Ambrose Bierce 18421914

1
Ambrose Bierce(1842-1914)
...I consider anybody a twerp who hasnt read
the greatest American short story, which is
Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, by Ambrose
Bierce. It isnt remotely political. It is a
flawless example of American genius, like
Sophisticated Lady by Duke Ellington or the
Franklin stove. (Kurt Vonnegut -- 2005)
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His Life

• Born in Ohio
• Grew up with a love of books
• Was an exceptional soldier
• Ironically, his stories were anti-war

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Work

• Best know for The Devils Dictionary
• Book of sarcasm
• BIGOT, n. One who is obstinately and zealously
  attached to an opinion that you do not entertain.
  
• FEMALE, n. One of the opposing, or unfair, sex.
• MALE, n. A member of the unconsidered, or
  negligible sex. The male of the human race is
  commonly known (to the female) as Mere Man. The
  genus has two varieties good providers and bad
  providers.

4
Disappearance

• 1913- Walked across the Texas/ Mexico border and
  was never heard from again (Pancho Villa)

5
Mystery of Ambrose Bierce

• At the age of 71 Bierce crossed into Mexico to
  join Pancho Villa's
• revolutionaries. In a letter to his neice Lora,
  Bierce wrote "Goodbye. If you hear of my being
  stood up against a Mexican stone wall and shot to
  rags please know that I think that a pretty good
  way to depart this life. It beats old age,
  disease, or falling down the cellar stars. To be
  a gringo in Mexico -- ah, that is euthanasia. "
  Just before he entered war-torn Mexico he again
  wrote Lora, "I shall not be here long enough to
  hear from you, and don't know where I shall be
  next. Guess it doesn't matter much. Adios,
  Ambrose."
• His final letter was dated Dec. 26, 1913,
  postmarked Chihuahua. In it, he said he expected
  to leave the next day, partly by rail, for
  Ojinaga, where Villa was poised to attack a
  cornered federal army.
• It was the last ever heard from Ambrose Bierce.
  His disappearance sparked investigations, wild
  speculation, but no answers. The novel The Old
  Gringo by Carlos Fuentes is a fictionalized
  treatment of Bierce's disappearance. Glenn
  Willeford has written a fascinating account of
  Bierce's presumed death in Mexico.