本书内容*早于19世纪出现于报纸连载。当时的连载文章,被集结为《愤世忌俗字典》(The Cynic's Word Book)之名出版。此书一出版就让全国模仿者跃跃欲试,书市突然涌入一堆「愤世」书籍──愤世小集、愤世大全、愤世点点点。但当时作者不但无力违抗编辑圣意也无福消受此等书名,数年后改以《恶魔辞典》书名重出江湖。
A celebrated journalist in his lifetime, Ambrose Bierce was the author of sardonic, mischievous definitions of words that appeared in various San Francisco newspapers. Over several years these were compiled for a mock dictionary, originally published in 1906 as The Cynic s Word Book and reissued in an expanded version as The Devil's Dictionary in 1911.
One of the most popular satirical works of world literature, The Devil s Dictionary here enriched with over 800 definitions left out from the original publications brilliantly lays bare the hypocrisies of American society and displays a razor-sharp wit to rival that of Bierce s contemporary Mark Twain.
Alma Classics is committed to making available a wide range of literature from around the globe. Most of the titles are enriched by an extensive critical apparatus, notes and extra reading material, as well as a selection of photographs. The texts are based on the most authoritative edition and edited using a fresh, accessible editorial approach. With an emphasis on production, editorial and typographical values, Alma Classics aspires to revitalize the whole experience of reading classics.
作者简介
安布罗斯·比尔斯(Bierce,Ambrose)(1842–1913,后失踪),美国记者、短篇小说、传说与讽刺小说作家,1842年出生于美国俄亥俄州的梅格斯县。著有短篇小说《鹰溪桥上》(An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge)(1891),短篇小说集《在人生中间》(In the Midst of Life)(1891),《这样的事情可能吗?》(Can Such Things Be?)(1893)等,以及这部为他带来许多声誉、也承载许多争议的书——《魔鬼辞典》(The Devil's Dictionary)(1911)。由于他对人类文明提出质疑,用幽默、讽刺与调侃的方式表现他对人类及其文明的沉思,故又被称为“苦涩的比尔斯”(Bitter Bierce)。比尔斯1913年隐身于战火纷飞的墨西哥,从此杳无音讯。
Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914?) was an American short story writer and journalist. He is probably best known for his story `An Occurrence at Owl Creek', published in 1890. In 1913 he went to Mexico in order to observe the civil war there. Whilst travelling with Pancho Villa's army in 1914, he vanished without a trace.
以下为对购买帮助不大的评价