Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce (June 24, 1842 - 1914 was an American short story writer, journalist, poet, and American Civil War veteran. His book The Devil's DictionaryThe Devil's Dictionary was named one of "The 100 Greatest Masterpieces of American Literature"

Bierce wrote realistically of the terrible things he had seen in the war in such stories as "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge", "A Horseman in the Sky", "One of the Missing", and "Chickamauga". His grimly realistic cycle of 25 war stories has been called "the greatest anti-war document in American literature".

It was reported that Bierce accompanied Villa's army as far as the city of Chihuahua. His last known communication with the world was a letter he wrote there to Blanche Partington, a close friend, dated December 26, 1913. After closing this letter by saying, "As to me, I leave here tomorrow for an unknown destination," he vanished without a trace, one of the most famous disappearances in American literary history.

Ambrose Bierce had a large amount of work published before and after his death, do you plan on reading any of his tales?

I'm sure to read something, since I'm a big fan of his works. I'll let you know when I've chosen what I plan to read.

If any of you use the SimplyE app, 3 of his works are on it. If I have time, I will try to read one. I can’t keep up with all of the books I want to read!

I read his short story “A Horseman in the Sky” last year for another group. It is quite memorable. (No link - I’m on my phone.)

I know what you mean Pam.

I think I have a book of his of Shorts. I think I will try to read one of those as well.

Hopefully Annette it has A Horseman in the Sky!

I am reading Tales of Soldiers and Civilians: 26 Stories: includes Chickamauga + An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge + The Mocking-Bird aka In the Midst of Life. I have added the covers since these two editions contain the same 26 stories as the 1909 edition. Some editions will exclude some stories and/or add some others.
For instance, the primary edition on Goodreads is a Penguin edition Tales of Soldiers and Civilians and Other Stories that includes the basic 26 AND adds about 14 other stories so as to include what Goodreads calls "his macabre masterpieces "The Damned Thing" and "Moxon's Master", and his hilariously horrific "Oil of Dog" and "My Favorite Murder"."

I chose the edition with the basic 26 stories. It is a good way to sample his stories in less than 260 pages as the stories are about 8 to 12 pages each. They are supposed to be a hit and miss collection that varies in quality. So far, out of the 5 stories I've read, the first 2 stories mentioned in the title have been very, very good, with 1 very good, 1 good and 1 a clunker.

This is Wikipedia on the collection. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tales_o...

I recommend either edition as a good means of getting an idea of his writing and storytelling techniques. But if you want to sample his supernatural tales, the expanded Penguin edition may be the one for you.

Brian,
Totally off subject but I was hoping you might have heard or read her works.

Dawn Powell?
I read an article, NPR, last night about her and found it quite interesting.
https://www.npr.org/2023/10/30/120853...

Lesle, I first heard of Dawn Powell when Member Jim mentioned her in the NTLTRC "What Classic Are You Reading Now" thread. This should be a link to some of the relevant posts in the discussion:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/comme...

I was so intrigued by her that I went and bought a copy of her A Time to Be Born which I hoped to read sometime in 2024.

I did not bring her up in our 2024 Authors list because I thought she was too much of a niche author and then, when you were looking for Lesle's choices, I felt that my 4 earlier suggestions of more popular writers was already more than my fair share of suggestions.
Remember that you were first interested in her because she's a fellow Buckeye?

That was years ago and right after I last Dad and Covid time. No wonder I do not remember! But my brain sometimes is mush.

After reading that article I purchase a couple of her books that have not arrived yet:
Angels on Toast
The Wicked Pavilion
The Golden Spur

I looked at Jim's books and he has only two marked as read Dance Night and Come Back to Sorrento. The two he did read he rated 3 stars. No reviews.

Lesle, I now remember reading about Dawn Powell just this year or the end of last year. My memory is that she was brought up by a gentleman, his name may have been Patrick, who was a retired teacher living in Mexico. Patrick, or whatever his name is, posted often in the "What book/classic are you reading" thread in 3 or 4 of my GR groups with various suggestions of authors he read, and he was well-read and a prolific poster. I noticed I hadn't heard from him lately and, in checking several Goodreads groups can't find a trace of him.

My hunch is that I actually read about Dawn Powell in one of his comments in some GR group and that he has since left Goodreads and deleted all his posts. But I don't know. Maybe he'll respond to this if he's lurking somewhere.

Was that the Patrick with all the dogs?

I found him. He has completely shut down, not in any groups and just kept a few friends. Sad. I really enjoyed his comments.

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4...

https://www.goodreads.com/group/comme...

Lesle wrote: "Was that the Patrick with all the dogs?"

I think so.

I search comments about Dawn Powell and Jim is the only one that discussed her other than you and me now.

Lesle wrote: "I search comments about Dawn Powell and Jim is the only one that discussed her other than you and me now."

I know. That's why I said that Patrick may have left and had all his comments deleted. I know you can do this because the former moderator of "The Works Of Thomas Hardy" group did that. There were some threads where she and I were the only ones discussing the topic. The new moderator recently messaged me a thread that now consists of only my posts so it looks like I'm conversing with an imaginary person.

Brian E wrote: "a thread that now consists of only my posts so it looks like I'm conversing with an imaginary person...."

Oh that is funny!

When do you have her slated to read?
I can let you know when I get the books and maybe we can discuss her style?

Lesle wrote: "When do you have her slated to read?
I can let you know when I get the books and maybe we can discuss her style?"

I haven't slated her yet. Probably sometime mid year but, as of now, I'm fairly flexible. I chose A Time to Be Born because it was her most popular and the one most mentioned in articles I found at the time.
However, other novels also have their fans. The Wicked Pavilion is her 2nd most rated and is slightly higher rated than A Time to Be Born.

FYI, Goodreads lists NTLTRC members Carol and Kathy E as having her last novel The Golden Spur on their Want To Read lists, so when you get around to reading that one of your ordered books you should post something about Powell in a more widespread group. Right now Carol and Kathy will only see this discussion if they are going to be reading anything by Ambrose Bierce.

My memory is that Patrick had just read and liked her Angels on Toast, which is only Powell's 6th most popular on GR. I remember thinking of choosing that one before settling on A Time to Be Born as the best place to start.
Angels on Toast has an interesting GR plot description: "Two dubious businessmen attempt to outwit their wives, mistresses, and hangers-on."
Sounds like protagonists I could really identify with ;)

Thanks for the links to Patrick. This is all I found about Powell on his GR page.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

So he did give Angels on Toast 5 stars, though it doesn't indicate him reading any others.

Thanks for the information.

Yes I will put something out there next year. I am making myself a note right now!

I've been working my way through the collected works of Ambrose Bierce and have just finished four very short ghost stories: Present at a Hanging, A Cold Greeting, A Wireless Message and An Arrest.
They're not scary but they do make you think.

This is my 3-star review of Ambrose Bierce's Tales of Soldiers and Civilians: 26 Stories: includes Chickamauga + An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge + The Mocking-Bird

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is the the rather thick book I have:


The Best of Ambrose Bierce 480 pages

Mine starts out with what you have listed Brian.

I preferred the tales of the soldiers to the tales of the civilians as well, Brian. Some of the stories were so sad, but had the feeling of reality.

Very thought provoking review from Brian if you are thinking about reading any of his short stories.

I’ll read Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. Thanks for the information about SimplyE, Pam!

Annette- You’re welcome! I read one of his short stories, The Damned Thing, which I found on SimplyE. I liked it although I had to go back and reread the beginning because I missed something. I misunderstood what happened due to lack of attention on my part. It’s an interesting story!