Ambrose BierceAmbrose Bierce

1842-1914(?)1842-1914(?)

Born in Ohio and raised in Indiana.Born in Ohio and raised in Indiana. He was the 10He was the 10thth of 13 children. of 13 children. He educated himself by reading his father’s He educated himself by reading his father’s

books.books. He left the farm in his late teens to attend a He left the farm in his late teens to attend a

military academy in Kentucky.military academy in Kentucky.

At 19, Bierce joined the 9At 19, Bierce joined the 9thth Indiana Indiana Volunteers in the Union Army and saw Volunteers in the Union Army and saw action at the bloody Civil War battles of action at the bloody Civil War battles of Shiloh & Chickamauga. He was severely Shiloh & Chickamauga. He was severely wounded once and was cited for bravery no wounded once and was cited for bravery no fewer than 15 times.fewer than 15 times.

After the war and leaving the army, Bierce After the war and leaving the army, Bierce moved to San Francisco to work with his moved to San Francisco to work with his brother at the United States Mint. brother at the United States Mint.

While there, he also worked as a reporter.While there, he also worked as a reporter.

He wrote a column called the “Prattler,” He wrote a column called the “Prattler,” which appeared in three San Francisco which appeared in three San Francisco newspapers. His column covered politics, newspapers. His column covered politics, society, literature, and gossip.society, literature, and gossip.

Because he often used humor and satire in Because he often used humor and satire in his column, he angered many key political his column, he angered many key political and business figures, but he was still well-and business figures, but he was still well-liked by the majority.liked by the majority.

In the early 1890’s, Bierce published two In the early 1890’s, Bierce published two collections of his stories: collections of his stories: Tales of Soldiers Tales of Soldiers and Civiliansand Civilians and and Can Such Things Be?Can Such Things Be?

Bierce also wrote Bierce also wrote The Devil’s DictionaryThe Devil’s Dictionary, a , a humorous and cynical view of the real humorous and cynical view of the real dictionary.dictionary.

Although he enjoyed some literary success, Although he enjoyed some literary success, his life was still marked by despair. His his life was still marked by despair. His marriage ended in divorce, and his two sons marriage ended in divorce, and his two sons both died at an early age.both died at an early age.

In 1913, he set out for Mexico, which was in In 1913, he set out for Mexico, which was in the middle of a bloody civil war. He was the middle of a bloody civil war. He was never heard from again.never heard from again.