A collection of essays in which Bierce talks about modern civilization and all its faults, the death penalty and many others. His arguments are still relevant to issues of today. Ambrose Bierce was well known for his biting wit and cynical approach to life.Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce was an American short story writer, journalist, poet, and Civil War veteran. Bierce's book The Devil's Dictionary was named as one of "The 100 Greatest Masterpieces of American Literature" by the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration.