Ambrose Bierce

[Benedict]

Are there any other Ambrose Bierce "fans" out here? After all, he is the American author who saw the most action in the Civil War and wrote about it afterwards, in poems, short stories, memoirs, and newspaper columns, therefore definitely taking part in remembering the war.

[H. L. Hanger]

Most definitely! Bierce has been overlooked by many Civil War buffs for far too many years! His Devil's Dictionary is a great example of his sardonic humor and his depictions of the impact of the war upon the participants are outstanding!

J

[Steve Acker]

Favorite author and taught in my Early American LIterature class. The kids seem to really like him, especially "Coupe De Grace" and "One of the Missing." His Picket's Mill story is awesome to read while walking the battlefield.

Steve Acker

[BumpusTN]

His Shiloh accounts are literally haunting.

Scott Bumpus

[Pvt Schnapps]

Bierce has been a favorite of mine for more years than I care to count. Among other things, he lived in Washington, D.C. for quite awhile before his disappearance and, as of just a few years ago, all of the places he stayed at were still extant. I had great fun hunting them down one autumn and wondering just what had caused him to fall out with any given landlord. The squirrels of Washington seem to remember him, too, or in any case remain fond of gray haired men with hazelnuts in their pockets.

I could go on, and for better or worse have: http://washingtonart.com/beltway/bierce.html

[Steve Acker]

Excellent article. Is possible, may I use it in my Early American Literature class, when we cover Mr. Bierce?

Steve Acker
English Teacher

[BenjaminLDavis]

Great writer, and his accounts of the war are unvarnished and sometimes very dark.
None of the chest-pounding that was the veneer of so many post-war remembrances.
Also enjoyed the movie on his last days (although it was largely speculative.) Gregory
Peck was the perfect choice for the aged Ambrose.

[BenjaminLDavis]

Had to share this first stanza of his poem:

Title: General B.F. Butler
Author: Ambrose Bierce

Thy flesh to earth, thy soul to God,
We gave, O gallant brother;
And o'er thy grave the awkward squad
Fired into one another!

[Pvt Schnapps]

Excellent article. Is possible, may I use it in my Early American Literature class, when we cover Mr. Bierce?

Steve Acker
English Teacher

Sure, thanks.

[Benedict]

I could go on

Same here--writing my final thesis on 1st Lieutenant Bierce and his phantoms of a blood-stained period ...