Collected Essays and Journalism, Volume 30: 1899-1900: Edited by David E. Schultz and S. T. Joshi

The ongoing horrors and absurdities of the Spanish-American War are addressed in many of Ambrose Bierce’s editorial columns of 1899–1900, especially in regard to issues relating to the Navy and its conduct in the Philippines. But literary issues also engaged Bierce, whether it be the emergence of Edwin Markham as a poet or the work of his own protégé, George Sterling. He defended the deceased agnostic orator Robert G. Ingersoll with vigor, while also speaking out on such a controversial subject as euthanasia. Numerous columns of fables worked their way into the volume Fantastic Fables (1899), although Bierce continued to write more fables after that book was published. Bierce also wrote some pungent works of fiction, including “A Night at Moxon’s” (later titled “Moxon’s Master”), a provocative tale of artificial intelligence, and several “future histories.” Throughout, Bierce’s vibrancy of style and acuity of mind are on display. Read more