Contents (view Concise Listing)

• 1 • Introduction (The Devil's Advocate: An Ambrose Bierce Reader) • essay by Brian St. Pierre
• 11 • Stories of the Civil War • essay by Brian St. Pierre
• 11 • A Horseman in the Sky • (1889) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 16 • An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge • (1890) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 24 • Chickamauga • (1889) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 29 • One of the Missing • (1888) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 38 • Killed at Resaca • non-genre • (1887) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 44 • Californians • essay by Brian St. Pierre
• 44 • The Returned Californian • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 44 • The Tried Assassin • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 45 • Very Lucky Baldwin • (1883) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 45 • Mike deYoung's Ambition • (1881) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 45 • To an Aspirant • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 45 • California Pioneer's Smile • (1870) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 46 • Board of Eduction Boring • (1869) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 46 • Board of Education Purging • (1871) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 47 • Co-education Coercion • (1869) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 47 • The Political Horizon • (1878) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 47 • Education's Benefits • (1870) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 48 • Bancroft's Library • (1884) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 49 • Reconciliation • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 49 • The Genesis of Crime • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 49 • A Trencher-Knight • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 50 • Marshall's Relier • (1885) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 50 • Genesis • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 51 • A Kit • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 51 • A Culinary Challenge • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 53 • Journalism, By and Large • essay by Brian St. Pierre
• 53 • The Highwayman and the Traveler • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 54 • The Prerogative of Might • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 54 • Twin Intolerables • [Fantastic Fables] • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 54 • Wolf and Crane • [Old Saws with New Teeth] • short story by Ambrose Bierce (variant of The Wolf and the Crane 1899)
• 55 • A Causeway • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 55 • Something in the Papers • (1980) • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 56 • The Fabulist and the Animals • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 56 • The Christian Serpent • [Fantastic Fables] • (1887) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 57 • The Poet's Doom • [Fantastic Fables] • (1891) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 57 • The Scurril Press • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 59 • The Shame of Satire • (1870) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 59 • An Editorial Paradox • (1870) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 60 • The Treatment of Drunkards • (1871) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 60 • Editorial Truths • (1870) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 61 • Editor's Prescription Denied • (1877) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 61 • On Encouraging Amateurs • (1878) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 61 • The Editor and the Monkey • (1869) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 62 • Literally and Habitually • (1871) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 62 • Art for Whose Sake? • (1885) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 63 • The Mangle of Satire • (1872) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 64 • Newspaper War • (1886) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 65 • Decanting Journalism • (1870) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 65 • Decanting Still Necessary • (1871) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 65 • The Value of the Press • (1878) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 66 • The Pride of the Press • (1872) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 67 • The Transmigrations of a Soul • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 69 • Arthur McEwen • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 70 • Literature and the Arts • essay by Brian St. Pierre
• 70 • The Pavoir • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 71 • Fortune and the Fabulist • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 71 • The Critics • [Fantastic Fables] • (1891) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 71 • On Putting One's Hand Into One's Belly • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 73 • The Humorist • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 73 • A Dilemma • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 74 • The Ox and the Ass • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 75 • The Powerless Poet • [Fantastic Fables] • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 75 • Mark Twain Marries • (1870) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 76 • Mark Twain Retires • (1870) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 76 • Mark Twain Prospers • (1870) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 77 • Mark Twain Holds Forth • (1878) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 77 • Bret Harte: The Professor • (1870) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 78 • Bret Harte: The Editor • (1871) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 79 • The Eastern Literary Conspiracy • (1883) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 81 • The Ineffable Oscar Wilde • (1882) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 82 • To Oscar Wilde • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 82 • With a Book • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 82 • In Warning • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 84 • To Elevate the Stage • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 85 • The American Chair • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 87 • Women • essay by Brian St. Pierre
• 87 • Epigrams on Women • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 88 • The Crimson Candle • [Fantastic Fables] • (1891) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 88 • The Reform School Board • [Fantastic Fables] • (1893) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 89 • Matrimonial Rights • (1872) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 89 • The Devoted Widow • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 89 • The Tourist Trade • (1881) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 90 • A Weary Echo • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 90 • The Inconsolable Widow • [Fantastic Fables] • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 90 • At Heaven's Gate • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 90 • Wanted: One Virgin • (1871) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 90 • Bereavement • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 92 • Disappointment • [Fantastic Fables] • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 92 • Nurse Wanted • (1870) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 93 • Again • (1980) • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 93 • Justice • (1980) • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 93 • Curried Cow • non-genre • (1874) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 100 • Religion and Religiosity • essay by Brian St. Pierre
• 100 • Saint and Sinner • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 100 • Arma Virumque • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 101 • Religion of Error • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 101 • A Constructor • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 101 • A Smiling Idol • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 102 • The Foolish Woman • [Fantastic Fables] • (1893) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 102 • The Old Man and the Pupil • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 102 • Theory and Practice • (1871) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 103 • Eliminating Wickedness • (1871) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 103 • Inglorious Soup • (1870) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 104 • Theological Questions Answered • (1871) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 104 • The Practical Parson • (1869) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 105 • Farewell and Amen • (1869) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 105 • Bible Belts • (1881) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 106 • The Show Business • (1881) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 106 • The Provocations of the Pious • (1869) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 107 • Religious Progress • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 108 • Born Again—and Again • (1870) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 109 • Faithful Followers • (1870) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 109 • A Radical Parallel • [Fantastic Fables] • short story by Ambrose Bierce (variant of A Racial Parallel 1899)
• 109 • Christianity in Action • (1869) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 110 • Educating the Heathens • (1869) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 110 • More Christianity in Action • (1870) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 110 • School Prayer • (1869) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 110 • Scudder Comes • (1868) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 111 • Scudder Evolves • (1869) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 111 • Scudder Anticipates • (1869) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 111 • Scudder Departs • (1871) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 112 • Sunday in San Francisco • (1869) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 113 • Sunday in San Francisco, Continued • (1869) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 113 • On Common Sense • (1882) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 114 • Merit in Suicide • (1872) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 115 • The Grace of God • (1883) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 115 • The Late Lamented • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 117 • A Dubious Vindication • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 119 • Lawyers and Judges • essay by Brian St. Pierre
• 119 • The Deceased and His Heirs • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 120 • An Error • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 120 • A Defective Petition • [Fantastic Fables] • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 120 • The Justice and His Accuser • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 120 • A Hasty Settlement • [Fantastic Fables] • (1893) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 121 • Unexpounded • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 121 • The No Case • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 122 • The Party Over There • [Fantastic Fables] • (1892) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 122 • The Disinterested Arbiter • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 122 • Murderous Madness • (1870) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 123 • A Capital Crime • (1868) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 123 • Judicial Homicide • (1886) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 124 • Irreproachable Evidence • (1871) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 124 • Do You Swear, Too? • (1881) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 126 • Politics and Politicians • essay by Brian St. Pierre
• 126 • A Rational Anthem • (1980) • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 127 • An Intrusion • [Fantastic Fables] • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 127 • The Moral Principle and the Material Interest • [Fantastic Fables] • (1891) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 128 • Congress and the People • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 128 • Alarm and Pride • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 128 • Orderly Progression • (1869) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 128 • The Boys and the Frogs • [Old Saws with New Teeth] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 129 • Cause and Effect • [Fantastic Fables] • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 129 • Six and One • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 129 • The Politicians • [Fantastic Fables] • (1890) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 130 • The Treasury and the Arms • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 130 • Art • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 130 • The Legislator and the Citizen • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 131 • The Member and the Soap • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 131 • A Statesman • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 131 • The Farmer's Friend • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 132 • The Hares and the Frogs • [Old Saws with New Teeth] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 132 • Differences Resolved • (1869) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 132 • Republicans All • (1882) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 133 • The Right to Rule • (1878) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 133 • The Citizen and the Snakes • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 133 • Rascals Rule • (1883) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 134 • The Pentitent Thief • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 134 • The Electoral Process • (1884) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 135 • Honest Differences • (1877) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 135 • The Kangaroo and the Zebra • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 135 • On Socialism • (1884) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 136 • Enlightened Self-Interest • (1878) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 136 • Sheep and Lion • [Fantastic Fables] • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 137 • The City of Political Distinction • [Fantastic Fables] • (1891) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 137 • Metempsychosis • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 138 • Another Aspirant • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 139 • Philosopher Bimm • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 140 • Detected • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 140 • The Bumbo of Jiam • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 141 • The Hesitating Veteran • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 142 • Mourning Glories • (1885) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 143 • Peace on Earth • (1885) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 144 • On Deterrence • (1892) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 144 • The Statue at Bumboogle • [Fantastic Fables] • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 145 • Business and Other Social Contracts • essay by Brian St. Pierre
• 145 • Business • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 146 • A Prophet of Evil • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 146 • The Compassionate Physician • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 147 • The Ingenious Patriot • [Fantastic Fables] • (1891) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 148 • The Belly and the Members • [Old Saws with New Teeth] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 148 • The Wolf and the Lamb • [Æsopus Emendatus] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 148 • Financial News • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 148 • Compliance • poem by Ambrose Bierce
• 149 • A Needless Labour • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce (variant of A Needless Labor)
• 149 • The Man and the Bird • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 149 • A Matter of Method • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 149 • The Lion and the Mouse • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 150 • The Overlooked Factor • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 150 • The Sportsman and the Squirrel • [Fantastic Fables] • (1899) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 150 • The Tail of the Sphinx • [Fantastic Fables] • (1893) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 151 • The Business of Business • (1878) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 151 • Prosperous Penitents • (1882) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 153 • Disintroductions • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 155 • Stories of the Supernatural • essay by Brian St. Pierre
• 155 • A Watcher by the Dead • (1889) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 164 • The Man and the Snake • (1890) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 170 • The Death of Halpin Frayser • (1891) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 182 • One Summer Night • (1906) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 183 • The Moonlit Road • (1907) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 191 • Moxon's Master • (1910) • short story by Ambrose Bierce (variant of A Night at Moxon's 1899)
• 199 • The Damned Thing • (1893) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 206 • Haïta the Shepherd • (1891) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 210 • My Favorite Murder • (1888) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 216 • Oil of Dog • (1890) • short story by Ambrose Bierce
• 220 • Write It Right • essay by Brian St. Pierre
• 221 • Write It Right • (1909) • essay by Ambrose Bierce
• 237 • The Devil's Dictionary • essay by Brian St. Pierre
• 237 • The Devil's Dictionary • (1911) • nonfiction by Ambrose Bierce
• 324 • Coda: On Suicide • essay by Brian St. Pierre
• 324 • Taking Oneself Off • essay by Ambrose Bierce