Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
These 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. First published as The Cynic's Word Book (1906) and later reissued under its preferred name in 1911, Bierce's notorious collection of barbed definitions forcibly contradicts Samuel Johnson's earlier definition of a lexicographer as a harmless drudge. There was nothing harmless about Ambrose Bierce, and the words he shaped into verbal pitchforks a century ago--with or without the devil's help--can still draw blood today.
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Customer Reviews: Read 41 more reviews...
 A real GEM !! November 5, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Any reader,particularly of history by Ambrose Bierce,will greatly enjoy this book. Little wonder, Bierce (1842-1914),an American journalist,satirist -"it was said that a bad review from Bierce could break a writer's career;and writer of short stories who earned the nickname "Bitter Bierce" for his sardonic views and his vehemence as a critic".
While the thoughts and definitions in this dictionary were written many years ago;they remain sharp,revelent and cuttingly satiric today.What I find so surprising is that these ideas have not become dated.
While few,if any ,dictionaries lend themselves to reading or simply just spending time leafing through;this is certainly an exception.
Just to give an idea of what awaits in this tome;try these for size;
mausoleum- The final and funniest folly of the rich.
martyr- One who moves along the line of least reluctance to a
desired death.
blackguard-A man whose qualities,prepared for display like a box of
berries in a market-the fine ones on top-have been opened
on the wrong side.An inverted gentleman.
amnesty-The state's magnanimity to those offenders whom it would be
too expensive to punish.
grapeshot-An argumentwhich the future is preparing in answer to
the demands of American Socialism.
And last but not least;
nonsense- The objections that are urged against this excellent
dictionary.
 Bitterly Funny July 8, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The Devil's Dictionary / 0-19-512627-0
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 "dictionary" by Ambrose Bierce is witty, scathing, and totally hilarious. In his characteristic style, he dishes out his contempt and distaste for those societal norms which he sees as foolish, hypocritical, and dangerous. This is not a book to read, but - truly - a dictionary to reference whenever the mood takes. The aphorisms ring true, even today, and the only real complaint is that we would wish for so much more - the dictionary is "only" 219 pages long, and while that is quiet a fair lot of words, oh, we wish he could have left us even more...
Funny, satirical humour of Ambrose Bierse May 8, 2008
A GREAT read! Just open the book anywhere and peruse the definitions. Bierce is satirical and puts his finger right on the nub of the thing!
the Devilish Ambrose Bierce strikes back May 7, 2008
Ambrose Bierce obviously had some fun at the expense of his fellow 19th century Americans with the cynical and sarirical word entries in his wicked dictionary.
Bitter Bierce at his very best... December 5, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Also known as "The Cynic's Workbook" this collection is classic and belongs in any library. Ambrose Bierce, like Mark Twain and few other of his contempories, had a biting wit that always left a mark.
Here is just a taste of his humor.
Philosophy: A route of many roads leading from nowhere to nothing.
Eulogy. Praise of a person who has either the advantages of wealth and power, or the consideration to be dead.
The large font is a plus in this book. Good illustrations.
Good good stuff.
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