The Devil's Dictionary was begun in a weekly paper in 1881, and was continued in a desultory way at long intervals until 1906. In that year a large part of it was published in covers with the title The Cynic's Word Book, a name which the author had not the power to reject or happiness to approve. To quote the publishers of the present work:"This more reverent title had previously been forced upon him by the religious scruples of the last newspaper in which a part of the work had appeared, with the natural consequence that when it came out in covers the country already had been flooded by its imitators with a score of 'cynic' books-The Cynic's This, The Cynic's That, and The Cynic's t'Other. Most of these books were merely stupid, though some of them added the distinction of silliness. Among them, they brought the word 'cynic' into disfavor so deep that any book bearing it was discredited in advance of publication."

New York Times bestselling author Steven Kotler's follow up to Last Tango in Cyberspace, a near-future thriller about the evolution of empathy in the tradition of William Gibson and Neal Stephenson. Hard to say exactly when the human species fractured. Harder to say when this new talent arrived. But Lion Zorn, protagonist of Last Tango in Cyberspace, is the first of his kind—an empathy tracker, an emotional forecaster, with a felt sense for how culture evolves and the future arrives. It’s also a useful skill in today’s competitive business market. In The Devil’s Dictionary, when a routine em-tracking job goes sideways and em-trackers themselves start disappearing, Lion finds himself not knowing who to trust in a life and death race to uncover the truth. And when the trail leads to the world’s first mega-linkage, a continent-wide national park advertised as the best way to stave off environmental collapse, and exotic animals unlike any on Earth start showing up—Lion’s quest for truth becomes a fight for the survival of the species. Packed with intrigue and heart-pounding action, marked by unforgettable characters and vivid storytelling, filled with science-based brilliance and cult comic touches, The Devil’s Dictionary is Steven Kotler at his thrilling science fiction best.

A veteran of some of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War, Ambrose Bierce went on to become one of the darkest and most death haunted of American writers, the blackest of black humorists. This volume gathers the most celebrated and significant of Bierce's writings. In the Midst of Life (Tales of Soldiers and Civilians), his collection of short fiction about the Civil War, which includes the masterpieces "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" and "Chickamauga," is suffused with a fiercely ironic sense of the horror and randomness of war. Can Such Things Be? brings together "The Death of Halpin Frayser," "The Damned Thing," "The Moonlit Road," and other tales of terror that make Bierce the genre's most significant American practitioner between Poe and Lovecraft. The Devil's Dictionary, the brilliant lexicon of subversively cynical definitions on which Bierce worked for decades, displays to the full his corrosive wit. In Bits of Autobiography, the series of memoirs that includes the memorable "What I Saw of Shiloh," he recreates his experiences in the war and its aftermath. The volume is rounded out with a selection of his best uncollected stories. Acclaimed Bierce scholar S. T. Joshi provides detailed notes and a newly researched chronology of Bierce's life and mysterious disappearance. LIBRARY OF AMERICA is an independent nonprofit cultural organization founded in 1979 to preserve our nation’s literary heritage by publishing, and keeping permanently in print, America’s best and most significant writing. The Library of America series includes more than 300 volumes to date, authoritative editions that average 1,000 pages in length, feature cloth covers, sewn bindings, and ribbon markers, and are printed on premium acid-free paper that will last for centuries.

If we could only put aside our civil pose and say what we really thought, the world would be a lot like the one alluded to in The Unabridged Devil’s Dictionary. There, a bore is "a person who talks when you wish him to listen," and happiness is "an agreeable sensation arising from contemplating the misery of another." This is the most comprehensive, authoritative edition ever of Ambrose Bierce’s satiric masterpiece. It renders obsolete all other versions that have appeared in the book’s ninety-year history. A virtual onslaught of acerbic, confrontational wordplay, The Unabridged Devil’s Dictionary offers some 1,600 wickedly clever definitions to the vocabulary of everyday life. Little is sacred and few are safe, for Bierce targets just about any pursuit, from matrimony to immortality, that allows our willful failings and excesses to shine forth. This new edition is based on David E. Schultz and S. T. Joshi’s exhaustive investigation into the book’s writing and publishing history. All of Bierce’s known satiric definitions are here, including previously uncollected, unpublished, and alternative entries. Definitions dropped from previous editions have been restored while nearly two hundred wrongly attributed to Bierce have been excised. For dedicated Bierce readers, an introduction and notes are also included. Ambrose Bierce’s Devil’s Dictionary is a classic that stands alongside the best work of satirists such as Twain, Mencken, and Thurber. This unabridged edition will be celebrated by humor fans and word lovers everywhere.

Book 1: Explore the sharp wit and satirical brilliance of “The Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce.” Ambrose Bierce, known for his biting humor and keen observations, provides a collection of cynical and humorous definitions that serve as a satirical commentary on various aspects of society. Bierce's Devil's Dictionary is a literary gem that challenges conventional thinking with its wit and clever wordplay. Book 2: Dive into the psychological complexities and societal critiques of “The Possessed (The Devils) by Fyodor Dostoyevsky.” Fyodor Dostoyevsky's novel delves into the lives of characters grappling with political and ideological turmoil. This profound work explores the destructive forces of radicalism and the impact of societal upheaval on individuals, making it a compelling exploration of human nature and society. Book 3: Unravel the mysteries surrounding demonology and folklore with “Demonology and Devil-lore by Moncure Daniel Conway.” Moncure Daniel Conway delves into the historical, cultural, and religious aspects of demonology. This comprehensive work explores the various manifestations of the devil across different cultures and periods, offering readers an insightful journey into the realms of superstition, belief, and folklore.

This eBook features the unabridged text of ‘The Devil’s Dictionary’ from the bestselling edition of ‘The Complete Works of Ambrose Bierce’. Having established their name as the leading publisher of classic literature and art, Delphi Classics produce publications that are individually crafted with superior formatting, while introducing many rare texts for the first time in digital print. The Delphi Classics edition of Bierce includes original annotations and illustrations relating to the life and works of the author, as well as individual tables of contents, allowing you to navigate eBooks quickly and easily. eBook features: * The complete unabridged text of ‘The Devil’s Dictionary’ * Beautifully illustrated with images related to Bierce’s works * Individual contents table, allowing easy navigation around the eBook * Excellent formatting of the textPlease visit www.delphiclassics.com to learn more about our wide range of titles

This compilation of hundreds of biting, witty, cruel, and hilarious definitions combines the best 200 definitions from Ambrose Bierce’s classic The Devil’s Dictionary, with more than 500 definitions from the most humorous and stinging entries in Chaz Bufe’s The American Heretic’s Dictionary. This new edition includes 50 new definitions from Bufe and new biting illustrations by San Francisco artist and filmmaker J. R. Swanson. The Bierce definitions focus on his favorite targets, including religion, jingoism masquerading as patriotism, the “lickspittle” press, the thievery inherent in the American economic system, and the multitude of idiocies and hypocrisies pervading American social and political life. Bufe’s definitions share many of the same targets, but also skewer such contemporary plagues as the “right to life” movement, religious fundamentalism, the IRS, and the puritanically “politically correct.” Bufe also turns a jaundiced eye on both male and female sexual attitudes, something which Bierce, writing in much more conservative times, was not free to do.

Discover the Intriguing Works of Ambrose Bierce with "The Devil's Dictionary" and "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" - A Captivating Duo of Dark Humor and Psychological Suspense Embark on a journey into the enigmatic world of Ambrose Bierce with this compelling 2 Ebook combo, showcasing the razor-sharp wit and chilling suspense that define his literary legacy. Book 1: The Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce: A Satirical Masterpiece of Cynical Wit. Prepare to be amused and provoked as Bierce skewers the absurdities of human nature with his acerbic wit and incisive observations. In "The Devil's Dictionary," Bierce offers a sardonic and irreverent take on the English language, redefining familiar words with darkly humorous and thought-provoking definitions. Each entry is a biting commentary on the follies and foibles of society, serving as a mirror to humanity's vanity and folly. Book 2: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge: Ambrose Bierce's Masterpiece of Psychological Suspense. Enter the realm of psychological intrigue and existential dread with Bierce's haunting tale of war and mortality. In "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," a Confederate sympathizer faces the ultimate reckoning on the gallows, only to find himself thrust into a surreal and nightmarish odyssey. Bierce's deft manipulation of time and perspective creates a gripping narrative that challenges perceptions and leaves readers questioning the nature of reality itself. Prepare to be Transfixed by Ambrose Bierce's Unparalleled Mastery of Satire and Suspense, Where Every Word Drips with Irony and Every Twist Leaves You Breathless. Join the Expedition through the Dark Labyrinths of Language and the Twisted Realms of the Mind! As you delve into the pages of "The Devil's Dictionary" and "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," ponder this: What truths lie hidden beneath the veneer of society, and what terrors lurk in the recesses of the human psyche? Let Bierce's haunting prose and incisive wit guide you on a journey of discovery and revelation. Don't miss this Unforgettable 2 Ebook Combo - Your Passage to the Depths of Bierce's Imagination Begins Now!