The Devil's Dictionary

by Ambrose Bierce

Overview

This timeless work of biting satirical wit presents an A-to-Z lexicon of common English terms, and what we actually mean by them.

The renowned author Ambrose Bierce produced classic works in a range of genres, from fantasy and horror to realistic tales drawn from his experience in the Civil War. Among his most beloved books is The Devil’s Dictionary, a work of wry humor that remains one of the funniest assessments of American language and manners. Through epigrams, essays, vignettes, and verse, Bierce skewers religion, class, politics, romance, and more.

Included, you’ll find such pithy definitions as:

·      Acquaintance, n.: A person whom we know well enough to borrow from but not well enough to lend to.

·      Bride, n.: A woman with a great future behind her.

·      Consult, v.: To seek another's approval of a course already decided on.

And many others.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781504080293
Publisher:	Open Road Media
Publication date:	11/29/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	336
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Ambrose Bierce was an American short story writer, journalist, poet, and Civil War veteran. 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. His story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” has been described as “one of the most famous and frequently anthologized stories in American literature.”
 

Editorial Reviews

This enjoyable abridgment is an updated version of a classic lexicon by one of the 19th century's most famous satirists. Originally published between 1881 and 1886 as a regular feature in the Wasp, a San Francisco journal, and again in 1904 in Hearst papers, Bierce's 700 definitions are just as humorous, witty, and satiric today as they were then. They mock social, professional, and religious conventions while also providing a small glimpse into late 19th-century society. Entries include, for example, "Apologize" ("To lay the foundation for a future offence"); "Beggar" ("One who has relied on the assistance of his friends"); and "Saint" ("A dead sinner revised and edited"). Illustrations by satiric cartoonist Steadman complement the text, while Angus Calder's (The People's War) introduction provides basic biographical data on Bierce's life and works and a brief bibliography. Recommended for public and academic libraries.-Laurie Selwyn, Grayson Cty. Law Lib., Sherman, TX Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

Forget the Summer of Love. Bierce is the real voice of San Francisco—mordant, worldly, skeptical, and witty.
—The Hungry Mind Review

Dana Gioia

The corrosive insights of Bierce seem as bitter and fresh as ever. He handles words with delicious precision.” —The Daily Telegraph

From the Publisher

"Though Bierce was known (and admired) for his mean streak, Bendis's takes on the writer soften his angry edges, disarming the loaded weapon of Bierce's prose."

Chronogram