Ambrose Bierce

Ambrose Bierce was born in Indiana, U.S.A. in 1842. He was the tenth of thirteen children and his parents were poor but loved books and reading. He left home at fifteen and never studied at high school or university but is now seen as one of the greatest writers of short stories in the history of America. Many of these are about the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865. Bierce was a soldier in the Union Army and, because of his bravery, he left in 1865 as a major. Ambrose Bierce did not live from his short stories but also loved working for newspapers. His articles were often quite cynical about famous politicians and he made many enemies. He disappeared at the age of 71, when he was sent to Mexico in 1913 to report on the war there.

Articles by Ambrose Bierce

The Boarded Window

Pre-IntermediateFiction

In this exciting story, Ambrose Bierce tells us about the terrible secret that lies in an old man’s past. His wife has died and the man has given up hope. But death is not unusual in his community. So, why is this man’s story so different from others? (1,235 words)

John Mortonson's Funeral

IntermediateFiction

In this very short story, Bierce describes the funeral of a respected and important public figure. But as his friends stand around the coffin, it starts to move and something unexpected happens. (425 words)

Beyond the Wall

AdvancedFiction

This ghost story frightens us by what we suspect, rather than what the author actually tells us. There is a sense of horror that never leaves us, as Bierce leads to his mysterious climax. (2,000 words)

The Boarded Window

AdvancedFiction

Bierce’s anonymous storyteller introduces us to an old man who lived alone, mixed with no-one, and had a terrible tragedy in his past that turned his dreams to dust. Bierce is a master of the very short story and tells a tale that comes back to us again and again, although we don't realise this until the final sentences. (1,345 words)