# Ambrose Bierce

## Biography

Ambrose Bierce was an American author, journalist, and satirist, born in Ohio in 1842. He was the tenth of thirteen children, and his early life was marked by rural beginnings before his significant service in the American Civil War. Bierce fought for the Union, experiencing battles that deeply influenced his later literary work, particularly his acclaimed short stories exploring themes of war, death, and the supernatural. After the war, he established himself in San Francisco as a prominent and often acerbic journalist, earning nicknames like "Bitter Bierce" for his sharp wit and cynical commentary. He spent several years writing in England before returning to America and contributing to various publications, including William Randolph Hearst's *San Francisco Examiner*. Bierce's most famous works include the short story collection *Tales of Soldiers and Civilians*, featuring "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," and his satirical lexicon, *The Devil's Dictionary*. His life concluded in an unsolved mystery, as he disappeared in Mexico around 1913-1914, leaving behind a profound legacy in American literature.

## Books

- [The Devil's Dictionary](https://samolit.com/books/95912)
- [An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge](https://samolit.com/books/95844)