The Devil's Dictionary

by Ambrose Bierce (Author), Ambrose Bierce (Author), Ralph Steadman (Illustrator)

• Used

  Hardcover
  2003

  $3.80

  A word book, straight up, with a twist The Devil's Dictionary is an American classic. A Yankee Oscar Wilde with a wicked edge to his tongue, gained from seeing the world early and cynically as it really was, Ambrose Bierce, friend and rival of Mark Twain, was one of America's first great writers and journalists. His razor-sharp wit and underlying rage against hypocrisy is perfectly complemented by Ralph Steadman's equally incisive pen and ink illustrations. Adore, v..t. To venerate expectantly. Bride, n. A woman with a great future behind her Corporation, n. An ingenious device for securing individual profit without individual responsibility. Debauchee, n. One who has so earnestly pursued pleasure that he has had the misfortune to overtake it.

• Used

  Paperback
  1996

  $3.25

  Originally entitled The Cynic's Word Book , this justly infamous volume was re-titled The Devil's Dictionary in 1911 and addressed to 'enlightened souls who prefer dry wines to sweet, sense to sentiment, wit to humour, and clean English to slang. Bierce's ironic definitions ring as true today as when they were first coined.