Produced by David Widger








INDEX OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG

WORKS OF

AMBROSE BIERCE



Compiled by David Widger





CONTENTS


FANTASTIC FABLES

AN OCCURRENCE AT OWL CREEK

##  THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY

##  THE PARENTICIDE CLUB

##  THE FIEND'S DELIGHT

##  A SON OF THE GODS, AND A HORSEMAN IN THE SKY

WRITE IT RIGHT

##  COBWEBS FROM AN EMPTY SKULL

##  THE COLLECTED WORKS OF AMBROSE BIERCE, Vol. I

##  THE COLLECTED WORKS OF AMBROSE BIERCE, Vol. II

A CYNIC LOOKS AT LIFE

##  THE DAMNED THING

##  THE SHADOW ON THE DIAL, AND OTHER ESSAYS

THE LETTERS OF AMBROSE BIERCE

THE MONK AND THE HANGMAN'S DAUGHTER

##  THE CYNIC'S WORD BOOK

CAN SUCH THINGS BE

PRESENT AT A HANGING AND OTHERS

##  SHAPES OF CLAY

##  BLACK BEETLES IN AMBER







TABLES OF CONTENTS OF VOLUMES





THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY
by Ambrose Bierce



CONTENTS
AUTHOR'S PREFACE
A 	B 	C 	D 	E 	F 	G 	H 	I 	J 	K 	L 	M 	N 	O 	P 	Q 	R 	S 	T 	U 	V 	W 	X 	Y 	Z





THE PARENTICIDE CLUB
By Ambrose Bierce



CONTENTS
My Favorite Murder
Oil of Dog
An Imperfect Conflagration
The Hypnotist





THE FIEND'S DELIGHT
By Dod Grile
CONTENTS
PREFACE.
SOME FICTION.
The Glad New Year.
The Heels of Her.
CURRENT JOURNALINGS.
MUSINGS, PHILOSOPHICAL AND THEOLOGICAL.
POESY.





A SON OF THE GODS and A HORSEMAN IN THE SKY
By Ambrose Bierce
CONTENTS
The Introduction
A SON OF THE GODS
A HORSEMAN IN THE SKY





COBWEBS FROM AN EMPTY SKULL
By Dod Grile
ILLUSTRATED WITH ENGRAVINGS BY DALZIEL BROTHERS.



CONTENTS
Fables of Zambri, the Parsee. 	1
Brief Seasons of Intellectual Dissipation. 	90
DIVERS TALES
1. The Grateful Bear. 	101
2. The Setting Sachem. 	106
3. Feodora. 	107
4. The Legend of Immortal Truth. 	111
5. Converting a Prodigal. 	115
6. Four Jacks and a Knave. 	119
7. Dr. Deadwood, I Presume. 	124
8. Nut-Cracking 	126
9. The Magician's Little Joke 	130
10. Seafaring. 	135
11. Tony Rollo's Conclusion. 	139
12. No Charge for Attendance. 	143
13. Pernicketty's Fright. 	148
14. Juniper. 	152
15. Following the Sea. 	157
16. A Tale of Spanish Vengeance. 	162
17. Mrs. Dennison's Head. 	167
18. A Fowl Witch. 	171
19. The Civil Service in Florida. 	176
20. A Tale of the Bosphorus. 	179
21. John Smith. 	184
22. Sundered Hearts. 	187
23. The Early History of Bath. 	192
24. The Following Dorg. 	196
25. Snaking. 	202
26. Maud's Papa. 	205
27. Jim Beckwourth's Pond. 	209
28. Stringing a Bear. 	213





THE COLLECTED WORKS OF AMBROSE BIERCE
Volume 1
1909
CONTENTS
ASHES OF THE BEACON
THE LAND BEYOND THE BLOW
Thither
Sons of the Fair Star
An Interview with Gnarmag-Zote
The Tamtonians
Marooned on Ug
The Dog in Gangewag
A Conflagration in Ghargaroo
An Execution in Batrugia
The Jumjum of Gokeetle-Guk
The Kingdom of Tortirra
Hither
FOR THE AHKOOND
JOHN SMITH, LIBERATOR
BITS OF AUTOBIOGRAPHY
On a Mountain
What I Saw of Shiloh
A Little of Chickamauga
The Crime at Pickett’s Mill
Four Days in Dixie
What Occurred at Franklin
‘Way Down in Alabam’
Working for an Empress
Across the Plains
The Mirage
A Sole Survivor





COLLECTED WORKS OF AMBROSE BIERCE
Vol 2, Soldiers and Civilians
1909
CONTENTS
A HORSEMAN IN THE SKY 	15
AN OCCURRENCE AT OWL CREEK BRIDGE 	27
CHICKAMAUGA 	46
A SON OF THE GODS 	58
ONE OF THE MISSING 	71
KILLED AT RESACA 	93
THE AFFAIR AT COULTER'S NOTCH 	105
THE COUP DE GRÂCE 	122
PARKER ADDERSON, PHILOSOPHER 	133
AN AFFAIR OF OUTPOSTS 	146
THE STORY OF A CONSCIENCE 	165
ONE KIND OF OFFICER 	178
ONE OFFICER, ONE MAN 	197
GEORGE THURSTON 	209
THE MOCKING-BIRD 	218
CIVILIANS
THE MAN OUT OF THE NOSE 	233
AN ADVENTURE AT BROWNVILLE 	247
THE FAMOUS GILSON BEQUEST 	266
THE APPLICANT 	281
A WATCHER BY THE DEAD 	290
THE MAN AND THE SNAKE 	311
A HOLY TERROR 	324
THE SUITABLE SURROUNDINGS 	350
THE BOARDED WINDOW 	364
A LADY FROM RED HORSE 	373
THE EYES OF THE PANTHER 	385





THE DAMNED THING
By Ambrose Bierce



CONTENTS
I
II
III
IV





THE SHADOW ON THE DIAL AND OTHER ESSAYS
By Ambrose Bierce
1909



CONTENTS
A NOTE BY THE AUTHOR
PREFACE
THE SHADOW ON THE DIAL
          I.
          II.
          III.
          IV.
          V.
CIVILIZATION
          I.
          II.
THE GAME OF POLITICS
          I.
          II.
          III.
          IV.
          V.
          VI.
          VII.
          VIII.
          IX
SOME FEATURES OF THE LAW
          I.
          II.
          III.
          IV.
          V.
ARBITRATION
INDUSTRIAL DISCONTENT
          I.
          II.
          III.
CRIME AND ITS CORRECTIVES
          I.
          II.
          III.
THE DEATH PENALTY
          I.
          II.
          III.
RELIGION
          I.
          II.
          III.
          IV.
          V.
          VI.
          VII.
IMMORTALITY
OPPORTUNITY
CHARITY
EMANCIPATED WOMAN
THE OPPOSING SEX
THE AMERICAN SYCOPHANT
A DISSERTATION ON DOGS
THE ANCESTRAL BOND
THE RIGHT TO WORK
THE RIGHT TO TAKE ONESELF OFF





THE CYNIC'S WORD BOOK
By Ambrose Bierce
1906



CONTENTS
PREFACE 	A 	B 	C 	D 	E 	F 	Q 	H 	I 	J 	K 	L





SHAPES OF CLAY
By Ambrose Bierce
1903



CONTENTS

DEDICATION.

PREFACE.

SHAPES OF CLAY

THE PASSING SHOW.

ELIXER VITAE.

CONVALESCENT.

AT THE CLOSE OF THE CANVASS.

NOVUM ORGANUM.

GEOTHEOS.

YORICK.

A VISION OF DOOM.

POLITICS.

POESY.

IN DEFENSE.

AN INVOCATION.

RELIGION.

A MORNING FANCY.

VISIONS OF SIN.

THE TOWN OF DAE.

AN ANARCHIST.

AN OFFER OF MARRIAGE.

ARMA VIRUMQUE.

ON A PROPOSED CREMATORY.

A DEMAND.

THE WEATHER WIGHT.

MY MONUMENT.

MAD.

HOSPITALITY.

FOR A CERTAIN CRITIC.

RELIGIOUS PROGRESS.

MAGNANIMITY.

TO HER.

TO A SUMMER POET.

ARTHUR McEWEN.

CHARLES AND PETER.

CONTEMPLATION.

CREATION.

BUSINESS.

A POSSIBILITY.

TO A CENSOR.

THE HESITATING VETERAN.

A YEAR'S CASUALTIES.

INSPIRATION.

TO-DAY.

AN ALIBI.

REBUKE.

THE DYING STATESMAN.

THE DEATH OF GRANT.

THE FOUNTAIN REFILLED.

LAUS LUCIS.

NANINE.

TECHNOLOGY.

A REPLY TO A LETTER.

TO OSCAR WILDE.

PRAYER.

A "BORN LEADER OF MEN."

TO THE BARTHOLDI STATUE.

AN UNMERRY CHRISTMAS.

BY A DEFEATED LITIGANT.

AN EPITAPH.

THE POLITICIAN.

AN INSCRIPTION

FROM VIRGINIA TO PARIS.

A "MUTE INGLORIOUS MILTON."

THE FREE TRADER'S LAMENT.

SUBTERRANEAN PHANTASIES.

IN MEMORIAM

THE STATESMEN.

THE BROTHERS.

THE CYNIC'S BEQUEST

CORRECTED NEWS.

AN EXPLANATION.

JUSTICE.

MR. FINK'S DEBATING DONKEY.

TO MY LAUNDRESS.

FAME.

OMNES VANITAS.

ASPIRATION.

DEMOCRACY.

THE NEW "ULALUME."

CONSOLATION.

FATE.

PHILOSOPHER BIMM.

REMINDED.

SALVINI IN AMERICA.

ANOTHER WAY.

ART.

AN ENEMY TO LAW AND ORDER.

TO ONE ACROSS THE WAY.

THE DEBTOR ABROAD.

FORESIGHT.

A FAIR DIVISION.

GENESIS.

LIBERTY.

THE PASSING OF "BOSS" SHEPHERD.

TO MAUDE.

THE BIRTH OF VIRTUE.

STONEMAN IN HEAVEN.

THE SCURRIL PRESS.

ONE OF THE UNFAIR SEX.

THE LORD'S PRAYER ON A COIN.

A LACKING FACTOR.

THE ROYAL JESTER.

A CAREER IN LETTERS.

THE FOLLOWING PAIR.

POLITICAL ECONOMY.

VANISHED AT COCK-CROW.

THE UNPARDONABLE SIN.

INDUSTRIAL DISCONTENT.

TEMPORA MUTANTUR.

CONTENTMENT.

THE NEW ENOCH.

DISAVOWAL.

AN AVERAGE.

WOMAN.

INCURABLE.

THE PUN.

A PARTISAN'S PROTEST.

TO NANINE.


VICE VERSA.

A BLACK-LIST.

A BEQUEST TO MUSIC.

AUTHORITY.

THE PSORIAD.

ONEIROMANCY.

PEACE.

THANKSGIVING.

THE GOD'S VIEW-POINT.

THE AESTHETES.

JULY FOURTH.

WITH MINE OWN PETARD.

CONSTANCY.

SIRES AND SONS.

A CHALLENGE.

TWO SHOWS.

A POET'S HOPE.

THE WOMAN AND THE DEVIL.

TWO ROGUES.

BEECHER.

NOT GUILTY.

PRESENTIMENT.

A STUDY IN GRAY.

A PARADOX.

FOR MERIT.

A BIT OF SCIENCE.

THE TABLES TURNED.

TO A DEJECTED POET.

A FOOL.

THE HUMORIST.

MONTEFIORE.

A WARNING.

DISCRETION.

AN EXILE.

THE DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT.

PSYCHOGRAPHS.

TO A PROFESSIONAL EULOGIST.

FOR WOUNDS.

ELECTION DAY.

THE MILITIAMAN.

A WELCOME.

A SERENADE.

THE WISE AND GOOD.

THE LOST COLONEL.

FOR TAT.

A DILEMMA.

METEMPSYCHOSIS.

THE SAINT AND THE MONK.

THE OPPOSING SEX.

A WHIPPER-IN.

JUDGMENT.

THE FALL OF MISS LARKIN.

IN HIGH LIFE.

A BUBBLE.

A RENDEZVOUS.

FRANCINE.

AN EXAMPLE.

REVENGE.

THE GENESIS OF EMBARRASSMENT.

IN CONTUMACIAM.

RE-EDIFIED.

A BULLETIN.

FROM THE MINUTES.

WOMAN IN POLITICS.

TO AN ASPIRANT.

A BALLAD OF PIKEVILLE.

A BUILDER.

AN AUGURY.

LUSUS POLITICUS.

BEREAVEMENT.

AN INSCRIPTION

A PICKBRAIN.

CONVALESCENT.

THE NAVAL CONSTRUCTOR.

DETECTED.

BIMETALISM.

THE RICH TESTATOR.

TWO METHODS.

FOUNDATIONS OF THE STATE

AN IMPOSTER.

UNEXPOUNDED.

FRANCE.

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

A GUEST.

A FALSE PROPHECY.

TWO TYPES.

SOME ANTE-MORTEM EPITAPHS.

A HYMN OF THE MANY.

ONE MORNING.

AN ERROR.

AT THE "NATIONAL ENCAMPMENT."

THE KING OF BORES.

HISTORY.

THE HERMIT.

TO A CRITIC OF TENNYSON.

THE YEARLY LIE.

COOPERATION.

AN APOLOGUE.

DIAGNOSIS.

FALLEN.

DIES IRAE.

ONE MOOD'S EXPRESSION.

SOMETHING IN THE PAPERS.

IN THE BINNACLE.

HUMILITY.

ONE PRESIDENT.

THE BRIDE.

STRAINED RELATIONS.

THE MAN BORN BLIND.

A NIGHTMARE.

A WET SEASON.

THE CONFEDERATE FLAGS.

HAEC FABULA DOCET.

EXONERATION.

AZRAEL.

AGAIN.

HOMO PODUNKENSIS.

A SOCIAL CALL.





BLACK BEETLES IN AMBER
By Ambrose Bierce
1892



CONTENTS

IN EXPLANATION

THE KEY NOTE

CAIN

AN OBITUARIAN

A COMMUTED SENTENCE

A LIFTED FINGER

TWO STATESMEN

MATTER FOR GRATITUDE

THREE KINDS OF A ROGUE

A MAN

SAMUEL SHORTRIDGE

SURPRISED

POSTERITY'S AWARD

AN ART CRITIC

THE SPIRIT OF A SPONGE

ORNITHANTHROPOS

TO E.S. SALOMON

DENNIS KEARNEY

FINIS FTERNITATIS

THE VETERAN

AN "EXHIBIT"

THE TRANSMIGRATIONS OF A SOUL

AN ACTOR

FAMINE'S REALM

THE MACKAIAD

A SONG IN PRAISE

A POET'S FATHER

A COWARD

TO MY LIARS

CODEX HONORIS

TO W.H.L.B.

EMANCIPATION

JOHNDONKEY

HELL

BY FALSE PRETENSES

LUCIFER OF THE TORCH

THE "WHIRLIGIG OF TIME"

A RAILROAD LACKEY

THE LEGATEE

A LITERARY HANGMAN

AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR

A CONTROVERSIALIST

MENDAX

THE RETROSPECTIVE BIRD

THE OAKLAND DOG

THE UNFALLEN BRAVE

A CELEBRATED CASE

COUPLETS

A RETORT

A VISION OF RESURRECTION

MASTER OF THREE ARTS

THERSITES

A SOCIETY LEADER

EXPOSITOR VERITATIS

TO "COLONEL" DAN. BURNS

GEORGE A. KNIGHT

UNARMED

A POLITICAL VIOLET

THE SUBDUED EDITOR

A "SCION OF NOBILITY"

THE NIGHT OF ELECTION

THE CONVICTS' BALL

A PRAYER

TO ONE DETESTED

THE BOSS'S CHOICE

A MERCIFUL GOVERNOR

AN INTERPRETATION

A SOARING TOAD

AN UNDRESS UNIFORM

THE PERVERTED VILLAGE

MR. SHEETS

A JACK-AT-ALL-VIEWS

MY LORD POET

TO THE FOOL-KILLER

ONE AND ONE ARE TWO

MONTAGUE LEVERSON

THE WOFUL TALE OF MR. PETERS

TWIN UNWORTHIES

ANOTHER PLAN

A POLITICAL APOSTATE

TINKER DICK

BATS IN SUNSHINE

A WORD TO THE UNWISE

ON THE PLATFORM

A DAMPENED ARDOR

ADAIR WELCKER, POET

TO A WORD-WARRIOR


A CULINARY CANDIDATE

THE OLEOMARGARINE MAN

GENESIS

LLEWELLEN POWELL

THE SUNSET GUN.

THE "VIDUATE DAME"

FOUR OF A KIND

RECONCILIATION

A VISION OF CLIMATE

A "MASS" MEETING

FOR PRESIDENT, LELAND STANFORD

FOR MAYOR

A CHEATING PREACHER

A CROCODILE

THE AMERICAN PARTY

UNCOLONELED

THE GATES AJAR

TIDINGS OF GOOD

ARBORICULTURE

A SILURIAN HOLIDAY

REJECTED

JUDEX JUDICATUS

ON THE WEDDING OF AN AKRONAUT

A HASTY INFERENCE

A VOLUPTUARY

AD CATTONUM

THE NATIONAL GUARDSMAN

THE BARKING WEASEL

A REAR ELEVATION

IN UPPER SAN FRANCISCO

NIMROD

CENSOR LITERARUM

BORROWED BRAINS

THE FYGHTYNGE SEVENTH

INDICTED

OVER THE BORDER

ONE JUDGE

TO AN INSOLENT ATTORNEY

ACCEPTED

A PROMISED FAST TRAIN

ONE OF THE SAINTS

A MILITARY INCIDENT

SUBSTANCE VERSUS SHADOW

THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC MORALS

CALIFORNIA

DE YOUNG—A PROPHECY

TO EITHER

DISAPPOINTMENT

THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF THEFT

DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN

THE LAST MAN

ARBOR DAY

THE PIUTE

FAME

ONE OF THE REDEEMED

A CRITIC

A QUESTION OF ELIGIBILITY

FLEET STROTHER

CALIFORNIAN SUMMER PICTURES

SLANDER

JAMES L. FLOOD

FOUR CANDIDATES FOR SENATOR

A GROWLER

AD MOODIUM

AN EPITAPH

A SPADE

THE VAN NESSIAD

A FISH COMMISSIONER

TO A STRAY DOG

IN HIS HAND

A DEMAGOGUE

IGNIS FATUUS

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM

AN IDLER

THE DEAD KING

A PATTER SONG

THE SHAFTER SHAFTED

THE MUMMERY

THE TWO CAVEES

METEMPSYCHOSIS

SLICKENS

ASPIRANTS THREE

THE BIRTH OF THE RAIL

A BAD NIGHT

ON STONE

A WREATH OF IMMORTELLES