In 1893, Ambrose Bierce declared "I am for preserving the ancient, primitive distinction between right and wrong." In Write it Right, originally published in 1909, Bierce turned this considerable zeal on the English language. The result revealed that the satirical author of The Devil's Dictionary had a keen ear for the vernacular--and that he hated it. This slim volume of his 300 or so reviled words and expressions contains many we use today with no hesitation at all. (Of "electrocution" he says, "To one having even an elementary knowledge of Latin grammar this word is no less than disgusting, and the thing meant by it is felt to be altogether too good for the word's inventor.") Jan Freeman, author of the weekly column "The Word" for the Boston Globe, annotates Bierce's rulings with style, humor, and in-depth research, revealing what Bierce got right--and what he didn't--and giving insight into how the language has changed over the past century. Write it Right, with its incisive wit and insight into the history of American English, is the perfect gift for word curmudgeons everywhere.

Are You Making These Mistakes In Your Writing? Amusing and thought-provoking, this A-to-Z compendium outlines common oral and written gaffes. Ambrose Bierce, a celebrated literary wit, assembled his informative compilation in 1909 from many years of observations and notes. He advocates precision in language, offering alternatives to grammatical lapses and inaccurate word choices. Times and usages have changed considerably in the past century. Bierce's strict rules remain, however, a timeless source of interest for wordsmiths and lovers of language. Bierce wrote this little book as a guide to improving writing. He states that precision is the key. Choosing the exact word and using it correctly is essential. Colloquialisms and vulgar language have no place is serious writing. A writer must use his values in determining what is appropriate. The lessons Bierce gives in this book are as appropriate today as they were a century ago. Get Your Copy Now

"Write It Right: A Little Blacklist of Literary Faults" by Ambrose Bierce is a collection of tips and pitfalls, including commonly misused and misunderstood words. Ambrose Bierce, a celebrated literary wit, assembled his informative compilation in 1909 from many years of observations and notes. He advocates precision in language and crafted this book as an A-to-Z compendium that outlines common oral and written gaffes.

For the first time in publishing history, Delphi Classics is proud to present the complete works of master storyteller Ambrose Bierce. This comprehensive eBook is spiced with numerous illustrations, rare and forgotten texts, concise introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1) * Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Bierce’s life and works * Concise introductions to the collections and other texts * The rare novella THE DANCE OF DEATH appears here for the first time in digital print * ALL the short story collections, with individual contents tables * Featuring 475 tales, many appearing for the first time in digital print * Images of how the books were first printed, giving your eReader a taste of the original texts * Excellent formatting of the texts * Famous works such as COBWEBS FROM AN EMPTY SKULL are fully illustrated with their original artwork * Special chronological and alphabetical contents tables for the poetry, essays and the short stories * Easily locate the works you want to read * The complete non-fiction, with many scarce essays and newspaper articles * Includes Bierce’s letters – spend hours exploring the author’s personal correspondence * Special criticism section, with essays evaluating Bierce’s contribution to literature * Also provides a unique ‘Biercian Texts’ section with interesting articles on the works and disappearance of Ambrose Bierce * Features a bonus full biography – discover Bierce’s literary life * Scholarly ordering of texts into chronological order and literary genres CONTENTS: The Novellas THE DANCE OF DEATH THE MONK AND THE HANGMAN’S DAUGHTER THE LAND BEYOND THE BLOW The Short Story Collections THE FIEND’S DELIGHT COBWEBS FROM AN EMPTY SKULL PRESENT AT A HANGING, AND OTHER GHOST STORIES IN THE MIDST OF LIFE: TALES OF SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS CAN SUCH THINGS BE? FANTASTIC FABLES NEGLIGIBLE TALES THE PARENTICIDE CLUB THE FOURTH ESTATE THE OCEAN WAVE KINGS OF BEASTS TWO ADMINISTRATIONS MISCELLANEOUS TALES The Short Stories LIST OF SHORT STORIES IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER LIST OF SHORT STORIES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER The Poetry Collections BLACK BEETLES IN AMBER SHAPES OF CLAY FABLES IN RHYME SOME ANTE-MORTEM EPITAPHS THE SCRAP HEAP The Poems LIST OF POEMS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER LIST OF POEMS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER The Non-Fiction THE SHADOW ON THE DIAL, AND OTHER ESSAYS THE DEVIL’S DICTIONARY WRITE IT RIGHT ASHES OF THE BEACON “ON WITH THE DANCE!”: A REVIEW A CYNIC LOOKS AT LIFE TANGENTIAL VIEWS BITS OF AUTOBIOGRAPHY MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES AND REVIEWS UNCOLLECTED ESSAYS The Essays LIST OF ESSAYS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER LIST OF ESSAYS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER The Letters THE LETTERS OF AMBROSE BIERCE The Criticism AMBROSE BIERCE by Vincent Starrett AMBROSE BIERCE: AN APPRAISAL by Frederic Tabor Cooper ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO BOOST BIERCE INTO IMMORTALITY THE UNDERGROUND REPUTATION OF AMBROSE BIERCE AMBROSE BIERCE by Ella Sterling Cummins Biercian Texts LIST OF BIERCIAN ARTICLES AND REVIEWS The Biography AMBROSE BIERCE: A BIOGRAPHY by Carey McWilliams

In 'How to Write a Novel: A Practical Guide to the Art of Fiction', Anonymous delves into the intricate elements of crafting a compelling work of fiction. The book presents a comprehensive overview of the writing process, from developing characters and plot to creating vivid settings and mastering dialogue. With a clear and concise writing style, Anonymous offers practical advice and exercises for aspiring novelists, making this book an invaluable resource for anyone looking to improve their storytelling skills. This guide is a must-read for both novice writers seeking to hone their craft and experienced authors looking to refine their techniques. The blending of theoretical concepts with hands-on activities sets this book apart in the realm of writing guides, making it an essential addition to any writer's library.

First published in 1890, ‘The Middle Toe of the Right Foot’ is a classic ghost story from famous American author Ambrose Bierce. A gruesome and horrifying murder has taken place. Manton, the only one left alive, flees the scene, leaving the house empty and abandoned. When a group of young men stumble across the empty property many years later, strange and unexplainable things start to happen. A terrifying tale suitable for all horror lovers. Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914) was an American author, journalist, and poet, best known for his horror and fiction stories. Born in Ohio to a large family, Bierce left home at 15 to become a printer’s apprentice. Bierce saw action during the American Civil War, and his terrifying experiences were recounted in horrifying and realistic detail in many of his stories such as ‘An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge’ and ‘One of the Missing’. Bierce also become known for his ghost and psychological horror stories, as well as his poetry. One of his most famous works is ‘The Devil’s Dictionary’ which contained satirical definitions of English words. Bierce wrote a letter to a friend in 1913 stating ‘I leave here tomorrow for an unknown destination’ before mysteriously vanishing without a trace.

One of the most interesting figures to emerge at the turn of the twentieth century was Ambrose Bierce, whose acerbic columns in the San Francisco Examiner spread his fame as America's most bitter cynic and misanthrope, and whose disappearance into Mexico surrounded his name with an aura of mystery. Although best known during his lifetime for his journalism and always critical of his own writing—"the magnificent intention mocked by the actual achievement"—Bierce's fiction endures, especially his short stories about the Civil War. Originally published in the 1890s and rediscovered in the 1920s, the Civil War stories are filled with unsparing descriptions of death and suffering, disillusionment and fatalism. They also show a concern for form and craftsmanship, a controlled irony, and an economy of detail that are distinctly modern. In this pioneering study of Bierce's stories, Stuart Woodruff examines the best and worst of Bierce's fiction with clarity and excellent critical sense, and he traces the causes of Bierce's success and failure as a writer, analyzing his inability to reconcile the extremes of temperament and belief that marked his life and give his stories their characteristic form. Among the pieces discussed: "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," "The Mocking-bird," "One of the Missing," "Chickamauga," "Ha•ta the Shepherd," "What I Saw at Shiloh," and excerpts from The Devil's Dictionary and Tales of Soldiers and Civilians.