Civil War Stories (Dover Thrift Editions)

Rating:
Summary: Ambrose Bierce: Hero/Genius/Necromancer
Review:
Ambrose Bierce was a Civil War soldier who participated in many campaigns. And the stories contained herein this title, are the output of his frustration over the violence and senseless destruction of that time.

His trademark wit abounds throughout, which isn't of the Jay Leno "Ha-ha! Look at me! I'm a big-chinned clown!" sort, but rather of the "Look at how terribly cruel people are!" sort. The stark dialog with its terse exchange between characters, trancends the page to imprint upon the conscience of the reader, that the world is a harsh foreboding place in which to attempt survival.

My favorite story is 'The Occurance At Owl Creek Bridge'. The visual style Bierce uses, particularly to describe the hanging of a rebel spy, left me breathless and checking my neck for bruises.

Ambrose Bierce was a war hero and literary genius, who never did write his great novel. No, because it wasn't really neccessary. For Ambrose Bierce in tale, could convey all the depth and meaning of the universe, while resorting to only a modicum of grammar. He is the greatest humorist and wit that this country, and thereby the world, has ever produced. I miss him greatly.

This book stands as a vivid reminder of that, which led Bierce to become so wonderfully cynical. And such a work should do the same for all who dare read it. At least that is my hope.

Rating:
Summary: This is good...
Review: Amrose Bierce's Civil War Stories is an excellent and unique book. No, it's not a narrative history like Shelby Foote's or Catton's books; no it's not a biography or autobiography; no, it's not a socio-economic discussion of the causes of the civil war; no, it's not a strategy and tactics book of a particular battle. This book is something altogether different and unique.

It starts with Ambrose Bierce. One, the guy can write, as he was an able journalist and satirist for many years. Two, the guy was there. And it is this combination that makes his stories unique.

Take "What I Saw Of Shiloh", for example. There are no discussions of tactics, no discussions of glory and honor. Only confusion and chaos, shivering wet and cold, unrelenting noise and fear, and gruesome death. Yet through all this, there is a satire and humor that will evoke a smirk from the astute reader.

Rating:
Summary: This is good...
Review: Amrose Bierce's Civil War Stories is an excellent and unique book. No, it's not a narrative history like Shelby Foote's or Catton's books; no it's not a biography or autobiography; no, it's not a socio-economic discussion of the causes of the civil war; no, it's not a strategy and tactics book of a particular battle. This book is something altogether different and unique.

It starts with Ambrose Bierce. One, the guy can write, as he was an able journalist and satirist for many years. Two, the guy was there. And it is this combination that makes his stories unique.

Take "What I Saw Of Shiloh", for example. There are no discussions of tactics, no discussions of glory and honor. Only confusion and chaos, shivering wet and cold, unrelenting noise and fear, and gruesome death. Yet through all this, there is a satire and humor that will evoke a smirk from the astute reader.

Rating:
Summary: Isn't it ironic
Review: Bierce does an excellent job of presenting the darkest parts of the Civil War: loss, death, betrayal. His short stories are clever and often take unexpected twists. An engrossing read.

Rating:
Summary: It takes you back to a bygone era
Review: This is a wonderful book, for a number of reasons. Pierce was one of the few men from the civil war that put into the words the horror was existed from the war between brothers. Also, his images are bang on. Ask any VN vet, or Korean, or WW2. These stories should be in every high school history class. It might make it a bit harder to go to war.

Rating:
Summary: It takes you back to a bygone era
Review: What is remarkable in itself is a firsthand account of a famous American War, The Civil War, written by a legendary author. It is an old world, almost archaic, style of writing that was difficult for me to read, and to understand the underlying stories. At least one of Ambrose Bierce's classic writings, "An Occurrence at Owl Creek", was produced into a truly amazing Twilight Zone episode. I personally didn't enjoy the book that much, and I don't naturally gravitate to these subject matter type of books, but I bent old attitudes and habits of thinking by reading a page or two a day. I'm glad I bought it and read it.

Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly modern, completely enthralling
Review: You would never think of these stories as having been written in the 19th century, but they were. Ambrose Bierce was a Civil War veteran who seems almost to have tried to exorcise the horrors of the war he lived by writing about it. The result is gripping and utterly believable; the style is immediate, you-are-there, not-one-word-too-many. Not the flowery elaborate style you might have associated with Victorian prose.

The results convey the horrors of war as well as anything written in your lifetime. The story about the little boy who gets lost near his home when it is surrounded by a battle...I don't think I'll ever forget it. I won't spoil if for you but you've got to read it. If you think that 130+-year-old stories have nothing to say to you, give these a try, you will see otherwise.

Not to mention the Dover version is NOT EVEN TWO DOLLARS at the time of this writing. You spent more than the price of this book on your coffee this morning, I'll bet. What have you got to lose? Add it to a Supersaver order, there won't even be a shipping charge. Best pocket change you will ever have spent on a book.

Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly modern, completely enthralling
Review: You would never think of these stories as having been written in the 19th century, but they were. Ambrose Bierce was a Civil War veteran who seems almost to have tried to exorcise the horrors of the war he lived by writing about it. The result is gripping and utterly believable; the style is immediate, you-are-there, not-one-word-too-many. Not the flowery elaborate style you might have associated with Victorian prose.

The results convey the horrors of war as well as anything written in your lifetime. The story about the little boy who gets lost near his home when it is surrounded by a battle...I don't think I'll ever forget it. I won't spoil if for you but you've got to read it. If you think that 130+-year-old stories have nothing to say to you, give these a try, you will see otherwise.

Not to mention the Dover version is NOT EVEN TWO DOLLARS at the time of this writing. You spent more than the price of this book on your coffee this morning, I'll bet. What have you got to lose? Add it to a Supersaver order, there won't even be a shipping charge. Best pocket change you will ever have spent on a book.