Can Such Things Be? (Dodo Press) [Paperback]

Ambrose Bierce (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 29, 2008

Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce (1842-1914) was an American editorialist, journalist, short-story writer and satirist, today best known for his The Devil's Dictionary (1911). He wrote some of his books under the pseudonyms Dod Grile and J. Milton Sloluck. Bierce's lucid, unsentimental style has kept him popular when many of his contemporaries have been consigned to oblivion. His dark, sardonic views and vehemence as a critic earned him the nickname, "Bitter Bierce. " Such was his reputation that it was said his judgment on any piece of prose or poetry could make or break a writer's career. His short stories are considered among the best of the 19th century, providing a popular following based on his roots. He wrote realistically of the terrible things he had seen in the war in such stories as An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, Killed at Resaca, and Chickamauga. His works include: The Fiend's Delight (1873), Cobwebs from an Empty Skull (1874), Black Beetles in Amber (1892), Fantastic Fables (1899), Shapes of Clay (1903), A Son of the Gods, and A Horseman in the Sky (1907), Write It Right (1909) and A Cynic Looks at Life (1912).

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA --Two masters of the horror form, in handsome new editions. Bierce's baroque nihilism and Bloch's colloquial morbidity have a natural appeal to teens. Both books include the authors' best known story (``The Damned Thing'' and ``Where the Buffalo Roam,'' respectively) and both could be used creatively in the classroom.

Copyright 1990 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Praise for the works of Ambrose Bierce:

''These pieces are not dated, nor are they lacking any of the narrative elements necessary to attract and hold the attention of anyone interested in the horror genre.'' -- SF Booklog

''Ambrose Bierce was an iconoclastic literary genius and . . . most readers will enjoy his malevolent skepticism and underlying rage against hypocrisy . . . His legacy is memorable.'' --Amazon.com editorial review --This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Dodo Press (February 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1406595853
• ISBN-13: 978-1406595857
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,842,231 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent...if abbreviated, February 26, 2011

By 

James David Reyome - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Can Such Things Be? (Kindle Edition)

I know more about Bierce himself than of his stories, except for the classic, "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge", which is quite well known, and rightfully so. But Ambrose Bierce is one of those writers whose persona was at least the equivalent of his tales. I'll leave that to you to discover as I did, however; the joy is in the hunt!

This rendering of "Can Such Things Be?" is excellent, a collection of Bierce's creepier tales. Some are better than others, and the whole was a bit spoiled by the absence of his "Missing Persons" stories, most pointedly the infamous "The Difficulty of Crossing a Field". The complete edition can be found as an ePub on Google Books and can be converted to Kindle format rather easily if you're so inclined, but it lacks the attention to formatting and corrections this one has--all in all, a wonderfully done piece. As such, even with the omissions it's still a VERY worthwhile read with some wonderfully gruesome twists that will stay with you a long time. If you've never read Bierce, this is a terrific introduction and a wonderful free download; it was, in fact, the first for my new Kindle. I suspect you will enjoy it at least as much as I did!