Biography: Ambrose Bierce: “Nobody will find my old bones”

Ambrose Bierce: “Nobody will find my old bones”

This is a brief review of a chapter from the book “The Good, the Bad and the Mad” by E. Randall Floyd.  This individual’s claim to fame is basically that his prophecy came true, and that he was a pessimistic old fart.  Oh, and he was a writer.

Bierce had served in the Civil war fighting for the Union at Shiloh; and being wounded at the Battle for Kennesaw Mountain.  He would later be commended for his war essays.  His outlook on life was effected by the horror of war, and it was this outlook that earned him the nickname “Bitter Bierce.”  “His acidic dislike for and lack of patience with the human race stains the pages of most of his writing.”  So he took his bitterness to Mexico during the revolution  saying “To be a gringo in Mexico—ah, that is euthanasia!”  Apparently he got his wish.

"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is one of his works made into a movie.  "Old Gringo" is a movie based on his life.