Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce was an American author, journalist, and poet. A prolific and versatile writer, Bierce was regarded as one of the most influential journalists in the United States and as a pioneering writer of realist fiction. For his horror writing, Michael Dirda ranked him alongside Edgar Allan Poe and H. P. Lovecraft. S. T. Joshi speculates that "he may well be the greatest satirist America has ever produced, and in this regard can take his place with such figures as Juvenal, Swift, and Voltaire." His war stories influenced Stephen Crane, Ernest Hemingway and others, and he was considered an influential and feared literary critic. In recent decades, Bierce has gained wider respect as a fabulist and poet.
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
Original publication
1890
Average rating
—
Total reads logged
0
Summary
Set during the American Civil War, Southern planter Peyton Farquhar stands upon a railroad bridge with a noose around his neck, awaiting hanging by Union soldiers as his mind takes a final desperate flight.
Story Vibe & Style Profile
Lighthearted
Contemplative
Direct & Minimalist
Realistic / Mimetic
Appearances
The Oxford Book of Short Stories
Jan 1, 1981
No source links yet.
Great American Short Stories
Jan 1, 2002
No source links yet.
Fifty Great Short Stories
Jan 1, 1952
No source links yet.
About the Author
Discussion
0Sign in to join the discussion.
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!
You might also like…
The Saint
V. S. Pritchett
Fifty Great Short Stories · 1952
The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County
Mark Twain
The New York Saturday Press
The Three-Day Blow
Ernest Hemingway
Fifty Great Short Stories · 1952
The Standard of Living
Dorothy Parker
Fifty Great Short Stories · 1952
A Rose for Emily
William Faulkner
Forum
The Other Side of the Hedge
E. M. Forster
Fifty Great Short Stories · 1952