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Step 1
Start with Ambrose Bierce's stories about the Civil War. Considered some of his best works, they're drawn from his experiences and tell vividly of the horrors of war.
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Step 2
Move on to Bierce's ghost and horror stories such as "The Fiend's Delight" and "My Favorite Murder." Though tame by contrast to today's violent movies and TV shows, they offer food for thought about the nature of evil.
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Step 3
Read "The Devil's Dictionary," his most famous work. It's a collection of satiric commentary on the society of his day through the language used at the time. Be sure to get the NuVision Publications edition from January 2007, which is a reprint of the version Bierce approved.
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Step 4
Get your hands on Ambrose Bierce's collected works. It's in multiple volumes and is divided into categories of his writings. You'll find his nonfiction works, as well as more Civil War and ghost stories.
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Step 5
Contemplate the real story behind his death with novels presenting possible theories. At the age of 71, Bierce crossed the border into Mexico and got involved in the revolution there. The circumstances and exact date of his death still remain a mystery.
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Step 6
Study the history of the railroad industry in the United States. Bierce was passionately opposed to the control the railroad barons had in the West. He succeeded in stopping a bill that would have let them off the hook in paying off debts to the federal government during their lifetime.
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Step 7
Check out the many websites about Ambrose Bierce's life and work. The Ambrose Bierce Appreciation Society even has a message board where you can exchange ideas with other Bierce enthusiasts (see Resources below).
