Customer Reviews

The Devil's Dictionary

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'The Devil's Dictionary' is an interesting, very intellectually cynical collection of proposed definitions to words collected by Ambrose Gwinett Bierce, a journalist, writer, Civil War veteran, and general misanthrope, who disappeared without a trace in Mexico about 1914. In the words of H.L. Mencken, Bierce has produced 'some of the most gorgeous witticism of the English language.' Bierce delights in irreverence and poking fun at all aspects of life.

Bierce's own definition of dictionary gives some insight into his general thought patterns:

'Dictionary, n. A malevolent literary device for cramping the growth of a language and making it hard and inelastic. This dictionary, however, is a most useful work.'

This would lead us to conclude (most correctly) that Bierce is a world-class cynic. What is a cynic?

'Cynic, n. A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be. Hence the custom among the Scythians of plucking out a cynic's eyes to improve his vision.'

Originally published under the title 'The Cynic's Word Book', most of the definitions in this book originally appeared as part newspaper columns. There have been many imitators, but this is the first and finest collection. Arranged as a dictionary, it provides an interesting writer's tool for finding a unique perspective on words and phrases. There are more than 1000 entries. A few examples include:

'Outdo, v.t., To make an enemy.'

'Universalist, n. One who foregoes the advantage of a Hell for persons of another faith.'

Fair warning -- those who do not like cynicism and scathing wit will find this book irritating, and sometimes offensive. Bierce is a product of his generation; political correctness wasn't in vogue then, and, even if it had been, Bierce would have been one of the sharpest critics.

As a Christian priest, I take great delight in the insights from Bierce's criticism of religion in general, and Christianity in particular.

'Christian, n. One who believes that the New Testament is a divinely inspired book admirably suited to the needs of his neighbor. One who follows the teachings of Christ in so far as they are not inconsistent with a life of sin.'

Why does this ring so true? Of course, there is the old adage that if you scratch a cynic, you'll find an idealist. Bierce would undoubtedly have described himself as a realist, but buried beneath many layers of cynicism, one can sense the idealism.

Why did Bierce go to Mexico? Perhaps his underlying idealism led him to a country that was awash in revolutionary ideas; perhaps those ideas are what cost him his life. Perhaps he went underground? It is possible we will never know.

The publisher of this volume, one of but many reprints of the text over time, says: 'The caustic aphorisms collected in "The Devil's Dictionary" helped earn Ambrose Bierce the epithets Bitter Bierce, the Devil's Lexicographer, and the Wickedest Man in San Francisco. The words he shaped into verbal pitchforks a century ago--with or without the devil's help--can still draw blood today.'

This book is very useful for generating ideas for writing and reflection. It is a good counterpoint to 'guides to positive thinking' kinds of material, and can serve as a tempering agent on such collections.

Definitely one for a person libary, but not for the overly sensitive. This book, written over 150 years ago, is a dictionary, but the definitions are very witty, true, and carry a negative air that, combined, make it humourous. A good read that can get your creative juices flowing (although that doesn't mean you need to agree or support the definitions).

This is a slender book, but each page drips with sophisticated, envenomed attacks on almost everything. Bierce's wicked sarcasm would probably appeal to those who enjoy the dry humor of Britcoms!

A veteran of the 1861-65 U.S. Civil War who mysteriously disappeared during the 1910-20 Mexican Civil War, the caustically irreverent Bierce was the H. L. Mencken of the 19th century (or Mencken was the Bierce of the 20th century). His timeless and ego-deflating observations of Homo Sapiens reminds us that today's 21st century politics and pop culture were well-known to this 1842-born iconoclast. For instance, he defined a conservative as, "A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others" (1993 p.18). He defined a homeopathist as "The humorist of the medical profession" (p.51). He defined a clairvoyant as "A person, commonly a woman, who has the power of seeing that which is invisible to her patron-- namely, that he is a blockhead (p.16). The expositions on everything from men and women to ghouls are too long to quote here but are also incisively amusing.

Picked up a copy of The Devil's Dictionary as a jaded all-black wearing angst-ridden teenager and I never snickered so much with any other book in my life. Bierce has a sharp wit and a cynic's eye and he uses both well in this anything but ordinary dictionary. Not all of the definitions are funny, but the majority of them really take no prisoners and it is very good at pointing out the little things we all still see in this modern day and age -- those little things we think to ourselves but dare not say outloud.

The only problem with it is that, true to its time, there are some racist and mysogynistic overtones to some of the definitions [the only reason it didn't get a full five]. But if you can see around these as simple dating of the text to the acerbic, razor sharp wit that permiates the pages of this book you're sure to get a good snicker or two out of it yourself.

My personal favourite? The definition for "Saint" [def: "A dead sinner revised and edited"]. Maybe I'm just a cynic myself, but this book always gives me a giggle when I'm in a black mood.

This little book is a great way to put things in percpective. Its witty humor and precise sarcastic definitions will take the edge of any bad day.

Ambrose Bierce is definitely the past master of the incredible. He has written fantastic stories that are still taught in the English classroom today such as his most famous work "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge". Bierce, however, takes a turn from storywriting to give us his cynical defintions to our everyday words that we use in our everyday language. His definitions are both hilarious and well done, and will keep any reader entertained. There are highly quotable lines in this book, such as his definition for abstainer - a weak person who yields to the temptation of denying himself a pleasure.
These definitions are priceless, and I would highly recommend any reader, whether a fan of Bierce or not, to give this book a try.

A classic that should be read by everyone. Many will hate it but it's a part of every American's heritage -- and probably more relevant in some ways today than when it was written a hundred years ago. Bierce was the only noted American writer who actually fought in the Civil War. All the other notables -- like Mark Twain -- dodged the draft. So for many years Bierce was the only major American writer who'd actually experienced the blood and guts of actual combat. He ended up a bitter man -- but the questions he raises are good ones. And he does it with a wit that is seldom seen in writing today.

This book is an absolute gem, and here is a wonderfully cheap edition, even allowing for conversion to non-USA currency. I like to go to sleep with a smile on my face, and this little tome was my bedtime reading for a while. Yes, I laughed my head off every night. Bierce's biting wit and skill with language are such a joy. His observations are as relevant now as when they were written, which was quite a long time ago. I particularly enjoyed his comments on religious and church matters. I have already given a copy to a friend who shares my love of language and wit. Mind you, I would not recommend it to anyone who had a sheltered upbringing or has a narrow view of the real world.

The Devil's Dictionary is in fact a dictionary, written not by the devil, but by Ambrose Bierce. He was awarded the nicknames 'Bitter Bierce', 'the Devil's Lexographer', and 'the Wickedest Man in San Francisco'. It is a compilation of Bierce's favourite definitions from his magazine, the Sting. They remain cuttingly true today, although they were written at the end of the nineteenth century. For example:

Monday, noun. In Christian countries, the day after the baseball game.

Monkey, noun. An aboreal animal which makes itself at home in genealogical trees.

The Devil's Dictionary is great not only as bathroom reading, but in helping one muddle through today's society. I only wish Bierce had written more.

More, adjective. The comparative degree of too much.