Ambrose Bierce

Ambrose Bierce Historical Figure Nationality: United States Year of Birth: 1842 Year of Death: 1914(?) Cause of Death: Unknown Religion: Agnosticism Occupation: Author of Fiction, Author of Non-Fiction, Columnist, Critic, Journalist, Poet Spouse: Mary Ellen "Mollie" Day (divorced 1904) Children: Three Military Branch: Union Army (American Civil War) Fictional Appearances: Atlantis POD: c 85,000,000 BCE; Relevant POD: 1452 Appearance(s): "The Scarlet Band" Type of Appearance: Contemporary reference Nationality: United States of Atlantis

Ambrose Bierce (June 24, 1842 - probably December 1913 or January 1914) was an American editorialist, journalist, short-story writer and satirist. Among his more famous works are the short fiction piece "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" and the list of witticisms anthologized as The Devil's Dictionary.

Bierce served in the United States Army in the American Civil War, and received severe injuries in 1864. After the war, Bierce began his writing career. From roughly 1870 through the end of his life, Bierce produced a substantial body of fiction in several genres, as well as non-fiction.

Bierce's personal life was rather tragic. His two sons predeceased him, and he eventually divorced his wife. In October 1913, he traveled to Mexico to cover the Revolution more personally. For a time, he rode with Pancho Villa's army. However, after a last letter send to a friend in December 1913, Bierce vanished. His ultimate fate remains a tantalizing mystery to this day.

Literary comment

The seventh volume of Harry Turtledove's Southern Victory series, The Victorious Opposition, derives its title from an entry in The Devil's Dictionary. "Manichaeism (noun): The ancient Persian doctrine of an incessant warfare between Good and Evil. When Good gave up the fight, the Persians joined the victorious opposition."

Ambrose Bierce in Atlantis

Mr. Bierce was an Atlantean writer and satirist which Athelstan Helms considered a clear-sighted man. He recited a Bierce quotem defining an accident as immutable natural law, to enlighten James Walton when their train was stalled by one ahead.