The Fiend's Delight

"The Fiend's Delight" by Ambrose Bierce is a collection of satirical short stories and essays written in the late 19th century. This work delivers a darkly humorous and irrevocably cynical examination of society, morality, and human nature through Bierce's sharp wit and biting commentary. The stories often highlight the absurdities of life, showcasing a variety of characters who embody the frailties and follies of the human experience. At the start of this volume, the author introduces his work with a unique blend of absurd humor and philosophical discourse, setting the tone for the tales that follow. The opening section presents a mixture of stories that explore various themes, such as existential despair in "One More Unfortunate," humorous family dynamics in "The Strong Young Man of Colusa," and the dark humor of morality in "The Glad New Year." Each tale provides a distinct character or situation, from a desperate woman contemplating suicide to a man obliviously celebrating the New Year with a drink, painting a picture of a world filled with personal tragedies laced with comedic irony. The writing is characterized by Bierce’s trademark dark humor and is both engaging and thought-provoking, inviting readers to reflect on the peculiarities of life and human behavior. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce was an American short story writer, journalist, poet, and American Civil War veteran. His book The Devil's Dictionary was named one of "The 100 Greatest Masterpieces of American Literature" by the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration. His story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" has been described as "one of the most famous and frequently anthologized stories in American literature", and his book Tales of Soldiers and Civilians was named by the Grolier Club one of the 100 most influential American books printed before 1900.