Bierce Serving as a union soldier in the Civil War, Bierce learned of war' s savageness, and how stupid and degrading it was. His writing style can be contributed to his war time experiences. His works are blunt, brutally realistic, and his attacks on others in the San Francisco Examiner, (American Authors 1600-1900 76) were nowhere near politically correct. Bierce's short stories "often hinge on an ironic surprising conclusion" (Contemporary Authors 48), as in one of his …showed first 75 words of 830 total…

…showed last 75 words of 830 total…and human existence gave him the nickname, "the wickedest man in San Francisco."(Contemporary Authors 41). Works Cited "Bierce, Ambrose Gwinett 1842-1914?" Contemporary Authors. Ed. Frances C. Locher. New Revised Series, Vol. 9. Detroit: Gale Research, 1982. 75-76. "Bierce, Ambrose Gwinett 1842-1914?" Contemporary Authors. Ed. Frances C. Locher. New Revised Series, Vol. 104. Detroit: Gale Research, 1982. 41. "Bierce, Ambrose" American Authors: 1600-1900. Sixth Edition. New York : The N.W. Wilson Company, 1964. 76-77. "Bierce, Ambrose 1842-1914." DISCovering Authors, Gale Research Inc., 1993.