Lyt når som helst, hvor som helst

Nyd den ubegrænsede adgang til tusindvis af spændende e- og lydbøger - helt gratis

  • Lyt og læs så meget du har lyst til
  • Opdag et kæmpe bibliotek fyldt med fortællinger
  • Eksklusive titler + Mofibo Originals
  • Opsig når som helst
Start tilbuddet
DK - Details page - Device banner - 894x1036

Shapes of Clay: 'Life—A spiritual pickle preserving the body from decay''

Sprog
Engelsk
Format
Kategori

Digte

Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce was born on 24th June 1842 at Horse Cave Creek in Meigs County, Ohio. His parents were poor but they introduced him to literature at an early age, instilling in him a deep appreciation of books, the written word and the elegance of language.

Growing up in Koscuisko County, Indiana poverty and religion were defining features of his childhood, and he would later describe his parents as “unwashed savages” and fanatically religious, showing him little affection but always quick to punish. He came to resent religion, and his introduction to literature appears to be their only positive effect.

At age 15 Bierce left home to become a printer’s devil, mixing ink and fetching type at The Northern Indian, a small Ohio paper. Falsely accused of theft he returned to his farm and spent time sending out work in the hopes of being published.

His Uncle Lucius advised he be sent to the Kentucky Military Institute. A year later he was commissioned as an Officer. As the Civil War started Bierce enlisted in the 9th Indiana Infantry Regiment.

In April 1862 Bierce fought at the Battle of Shiloh, an experience which, though terrifying, became the source of several short stories. Two years later he sustained a serious head wound and was off duty for several months. He was discharged in early 1865.

A later expedition to inspect military outposts across the Great Plains took him all the way to San Francisco. He remained there to become involved with publishing and editing and to marry, Mary Ellen on Christmas Day 1871. They had a child, Day, the following year.

In 1872 the family moved to England for 3 years where he wrote for Fun magazine. His son, Leigh, was born, and first book, ‘The Fiend’s Delight’, was published. They returned to San Francisco and to work for a number of papers where he gained admiration for his crime reporting. In 1887 he began a column at the William Randolph Hearst’s San Francisco Examiner.

Bierce’s marriage fell apart when he discovered compromising letters to his wife from a secret admirer. The following year, 1889 his son Day committed suicide, depressed by romantic rejection.

In 1891 Bierce wrote and published the collection of 26 short stories which included ‘An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge’. Success and further works including poetry followed.

Bierce with Hearst’s resources helped uncover a financial plot by a railroad to turn 130 million dollars of loans into a handout. Confronted by the railroad and asked to name his price Bierce answered “my price is $130 million dollars. If, when you are ready to pay, I happen to be out of town, you may hand it over to my friend, the Treasurer of the United States”.

He now began his first foray as a fabulist, publishing ‘Fantastic Fables’ in 1899. But tragedy again struck two years later when his second son Leigh died of pneumonia relating to his alcoholism.

He continued to write short stories and poetry and also published ‘The Devil’s Dictionary’.

At the age of 71, in 1913 Bierce departed from Washington, D.C., for a tour of the battlefields where he had fought during the civil war. At the city of Chihuahua he wrote his last known communication, a letter to a friend. It’s closing words were “as to me, I leave here tomorrow for an unknown destination,” Ambrose Bierce then vanished without trace.

As a poet Bierce infuses his verse with both beauty and sharp wit as he writes on subjects that range from the off-beat and whimsical to incisive views on society, its revels and its torments.

© 2022 Portable Poetry (E-bog): 9781803543277

Release date

E-bog: 1. januar 2022

Andre kan også lide...

  1. Across the Plains Robert Louis Stevenson
  2. The Man of the Desert: Including the Sequel "A Voice in the Wilderness" Grace Livingston Hill
  3. Ashes of the Beacon: A Historical Monograph Written in 4930 Ambrose Bierce
  4. The adventures of Hatim Taï, a romance: A timeless tale of heroic exploits, fantastical encounters, and acts of chivalry Anonymous
  5. Presenting Lily Mars: A Journey to Stardom: A Tale of Ambition and Resilience in the 1920s Entertainment World Booth Tarkington
  6. Lucy Gayheart Willa Cather
  7. Varied Types: Exploring Society and Culture Through Humor and Insight Gilbert Keith Chesterton
  8. The Turmoil: A Novel Booth Tarkington
  9. These Twain (Unabridged) Arnold Bennett
  10. The Story of a Year: A Journey Through Love, Loss, and Personal Growth in a Changing Society Henry James
  11. The Landleaguers Anthony Trollope
  12. The Plain Man and His Wife: Exploring Marital Dynamics in Early 20th Century England Arnold Bennett
  13. Riceyman Steps: A Novel Arnold Bennett
  14. A Personal Record Joseph Conrad
  15. Life Sentences: Short Stories Various authors
  16. The Rainbow Trail Zane Grey
  17. The Pocket R.L.S.: Being Favourite Passages from the Works of Stevenson Robert Louis Stevenson
  18. The Journal of Julius Rodman Edgar Allan Poe
  19. The Song of the Lark Willa Cather
  20. Thou Art the Man Edgar Allan Poe
  21. The Mystery of Mary: An American Romance of Faith, Love, and Intrigue Grace Livingston Hill
  22. Diddling Considered as One of the Exact Sciences Edgar Allan Poe
  23. The Invisible Giant Bram Stoker
  24. The Complete Father Brown Mysteries G. K. Chesterton
  25. The Day of Uniting: A Thrilling Tale of Political Intrigue and Espionage Edgar Wallace
  26. The Little Minister: Love, Faith, and Forbidden Romance in Rural Scotland: An Intricate Tale of Tradition and Modernity J. M. Barrie
  27. An Eye for an Eye Anthony Trollope
  28. Dracula's Guest Bram Stoker
  29. Trouble Shooter: Western Adventure Novel Ernest Haycox
  30. Down Under Donovan: An Outback Adventure of Mystery and Suspense Edgar Wallace
  31. The Louisa Alcott Reader: a Supplementary Reader for the Fourth Year of School: Timeless Tales for Young Minds: A Literary Journey through the 19th Century Louisa May Alcott
  32. Martin Rattler: Action Thriller: Adventures of a Boy in the Forests of Brazil R. M. Ballantyne
  33. Theology and the Crisis of Engagement: Essays on the Relationship between Theology and the Social Sciences Various authors
  34. The Heritage of Hatcher Ide: “Destiny has a constant passion for the incongruous” Booth Tarkington
  35. Adam Bede by George Eliot - Delphi Classics (Illustrated) George Eliot
  36. The End of the Tether: Exploring Power and Redemption at Sea: A Tale of Corruption and Morality Joseph Conrad
  37. At Isella: Love, Betrayal, and Society: A Tale of 19th Century England Henry James
  38. The Cricket on the Hearth: A Heartwarming Christmas Tale of Family, Loyalty, and Redemption Charles Dickens
  39. A Set of Six Joseph Conrad
  40. THE RED THUMB MARK, THE EYE OF OSIRIS & THE MYSTERY OF 31 NEW INN: (3 British Mystery Classics in One Volume) Dr. Thorndyke Series – The Greatest Forensic Science Mysteries R. Austin Freeman
  41. The Dance of Death by Ambrose Bierce (Illustrated) Ambrose Bierce
  42. The Merry Men, and Other Tales and Fables Robert Louis Stevenson
  43. Aristotle: The Complete Works Aristotle
  44. A Son of the Gods and A Horseman in the Sky Ambrose Bierce

Vælg dit abonnement

  • Over 600.000 titler

  • Download og nyd titler offline

  • Eksklusive titler + Mofibo Originals

  • Børnevenligt miljø (Kids Mode)

  • Det er nemt at opsige når som helst

Flex

For dig som vil prøve Mofibo.

89 kr. /måned
  • 1 konto

  • 20 timer/måned

  • Gem op til 100 ubrugte timer

  • Eksklusivt indhold hver uge

  • Fri lytning til podcasts

  • Ingen binding

Prøv gratis
Den mest populære

Premium

For dig som lytter og læser ofte.

129 kr. /måned
  • 1 konto

  • 100 timer/måned

  • Eksklusivt indhold hver uge

  • Fri lytning til podcasts

  • Ingen binding

Start tilbuddet

Unlimited

For dig som lytter og læser ubegrænset.

149 kr. /måned
  • 1 konto

  • Ubegrænset adgang

  • Eksklusivt indhold hver uge

  • Fri lytning til podcasts

  • Ingen binding

Start tilbuddet

Family

For dig som ønsker at dele historier med familien.

Fra 179 kr. /måned
  • 2-6 konti

  • 100 timer/måned pr. konto

  • Fri lytning til podcasts

  • Kun 39 kr. pr. ekstra konto

  • Ingen binding

2 konti

179 kr. /måned
Start tilbuddet