The Devil's Dictionary - by Ambrose Bierce

Book Synopsis

"Politeness, n. The most acceptable hypocrisy."

In this extraordinary work of scathing satire, Ambrose Bierce provided new humorous definitions of the words that formed the lexicon of contemporary American life.

Accumulated over three decades for a series of magazines and newspapers, the entries in The Devil's Dictionary painted a revealing portrait of late 19th-century American life, with all its contradictions and hypocrisies laid bare.

Bierce's fantastic wit and incredible gift for irony shine through this true masterpiece of American literature. This handsome hardback edition with dust jacket makes a wonderful gift or collectible of this classic work of satire.

Review Quotes

"Probably the most brilliant work of satire written in America. And maybe one of the greatest in all world literature"--Jason Zweig

About the Author

Ambrose Bierce (1842-c.1914) was a short story writer, journalist, poet, and American Civil War veteran from Ohio, USA. He contributed to a number of newspapers and magazines, where he received acclaim for his work and became one of the most influential journalists in the country. Bierce was also regarded as a pioneering writer of realist fiction. His most famous work was The Devil's Dictionary, published in 1906.