Another man enters, his name is Harker, he was the last person to see Morgan alive and is there to testify. The men are reading Morgan’s notebook and holding an inquest into his murder. Eight people are gathered in a cabin and surround the dead body of the cabin’s owner, Hugh Morgan. 'The story takes place in the middle of the woods on a dark night. Also, I came to the conclusion that Ambrose Bierce's writing is not for me. There's an excellent premise, but it could have been better developed and IMHO this short story could have more pages. To be a Gringo in Mexico-ah, that is euthanasia!'įor me, it was an Okay read. It beats old age, disease, or falling down the cellar stairs. If you hear of my being stood up against a Mexican stone wall and shot to rags, please know that I think it is a pretty good way to depart this life. He wrote in one of his final letters: 'Good-bye. He is believed to have traveled to Mexico to gain a firsthand perspective on that country's ongoing revolution.ĭespite an abundance of theories, Bierce's ultimate fate remains a mystery. This style often embraces an abrupt beginning, dark imagery, vague references to time, limited descriptions, the theme of war, and impossible events.īierce disappeared in December 1913 at the age of 71.

Morrow.īierce employed a distinctive style of writing, especially in his stories. The sardonic view of human nature that informed his work – along with his vehemence as a critic, with his motto 'nothing matters' – earned him the nickname 'Bitter Bierce.'ĭespite his reputation as a searing critic, however, Bierce was known to encourage younger writers, including poet George Sterling and fiction writer W. Today, he is best known for his short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge and his satirical lexicon, The Devil's Dictionary. Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce (1842-1914) was an American editorialist, journalist, short story writer, fabulist and satirist.

The Damned Thing by Ambrose Bierce