Description
By: Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?)
In this collection of short stories, Ambrose Bierce takes readers on a journey through the harsh realities of war and the complexities of human nature. Each story explores the themes of death, loss, and the moral ambiguities that arise in times of conflict.
Bierce’s writing is sharp and unflinching, painting vivid and often bleak portraits of soldiers and civilians caught in the turmoil of war. The characters are complex and flawed, grappling with their own inner demons as they navigate the chaos around them.
One of the standout stories in the collection is “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” which tells the tale of a man condemned to death during the Civil War. Through Bierce’s masterful storytelling, readers are taken on a rollercoaster of emotions as the protagonist’s fate unfolds in unexpected ways.
Overall, In the Midst of Life is a thought-provoking and haunting collection that forces readers to confront the grim realities of war and the human capacity for both cruelty and compassion. Bierce’s writing is as relevant and powerful today as it was when it was first published, making this a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the darker side of human nature.
Book Description:
These stories detail the lives of soldiers and civilians during the American Civil War. This is the 1909 edition. The 1909 edition omits six stories from the original 1891 edition; these six stories are added to this recording (from an undated English edition). The 1891 edition is entitled In The Midst Of Life; Tales Of Soldiers And Civilians. The Wikipedia entry for the book uses the title Tales of Soldiers and Civilians.
Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce (June 24, 1842 – after December 26, 1913) was an American editorialist, journalist, short story writer, fabulist and satirist. Today, he is best known for his short story, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” and his satirical lexicon, The Devil’s Dictionary. The sardonic view of human nature that informed his work – along with his vehemence as a critic, with his motto “nothing matters” – earned him the nickname “Bitter Bierce.” Despite his reputation as a searing critic, however, Bierce was known to encourage younger writers, including poet George Sterling and fiction writer W. C. Morrow. Bierce employed a distinctive style of writing, especially in his stories. This style often embraces an abrupt beginning, dark imagery, vague references to time, limited descriptions, the theme of war, and impossible events. In 1913, Bierce traveled to Mexico to gain a first-hand perspective on that country’s ongoing revolution. While traveling with rebel troops, the elderly writer disappeared without a trace. Since the book is a compilation of short stories, there is not an overarching plot. However, there are literary elements, or plot devices, that are shared throughout. Bierce’s stories often begin mid-plot, with relevant details withheld until the end, where the dramatic resolution unfolds differently than expected, to a degree where most are considered twist endings. His characters were described by George Sterling as: “His heroes, or rather victims, are lonely men, passing to unpredictable dooms, and hearing, from inaccessible crypts of space, the voices of unseen malevolencies.”… Bierce served as a union soldier during the Civil War and his experiences as a soldier served as an inspiration for his writing, particularly for the Soldiers section. In this way, Bierce’s war treatments anticipate and parallel Ernest Hemingway’s later arrival, whereas the civilian tales later influence horror writers.
