A study of the formation, execution, and contribution of Ambrose Bierce's short stories.

Abstract

Ambrose Bierce, for an unknown and unread author, has an unbelievably long bibliography. His works have been translated into every European language, including Russian and Norwegian. Until recently, however, no one has closely examined the fictive world of Bierce. Stuart C. Woodruff, in his book The ?hort Stories Qf Ambrose Bierce. A Study in Polarity, and Eric Solomon, in a Midwest Quarterly article entitled "The Bitterness of Battle. Ambrose Bierce's War Fiction," seriously consider the fiction of Bierce. But just as it is impossible to assess an entire panoramic view with one stationary glance, so it is impossible to assess the art of Ambrose Bierce employing the same technique. Too many critics have passed over Bierce's short stories and have merely lumped them together with his other writings to form a rather blurry picture. Bierce, himself, is partially responsible for this lack of literary interest; he failed to publish competently his artistic efforts. Nevertheless, he deserves to be republished skillfully so that his talent as a writer can be seen and appreciated. My intent here has not been to catalog another frustrated artist on the shelf of American literature. I have sought to elevate Bierce in the eyes of the reading pUblic by tracing the formation, execution, and contribution of his short stories. By concentrating on a selection of representative tales, I have tried to establish a firm foundation for Bierce's fiction and to erect his rightful position in American letters.