What do you think?
Rate this book
The Moonlit Road
*short story
Unknown Binding
13 people want to read
About the author
Ambrose Bierce
2,205Ìýbooks1,262Ìýfollowersdied perhaps 1914
Caustic wit and a strong sense of horror mark works, including In the Midst of Life (1891-1892) and The Devil's Dictionary (1906), of American writer Ambrose Gwinett Bierce.
People today best know this editorialist, journalist, and fabulist for his short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge and his lexicon.
The informative sardonic view of human nature alongside his vehemence as a critic with his motto, "nothing matters," earned him the nickname "Bitter Bierce."
People knew Bierce despite his reputation as a searing critic, however, to encourage younger poet George Sterling and fiction author W.C. Morrow.
Bierce employed a distinctive style especially in his stories. This style often embraces an abrupt beginning, dark imagery, vague references to time, limited descriptions, the theme of war, and impossible events.
Bierce disappeared in December 1913 at the age of 71 years. People think that he traveled to Mexico to gain a firsthand perspective on ongoing revolution of that country.
Theories abound on a mystery, ultimate fate of Bierce. He in one of his final letters stated: "Good-bye. If you hear of my being stood up against a Mexican stone wall and shot to rags, please know that I think it is a pretty good way to depart this life. It beats old age, disease, or falling down the cellar stairs. To be a Gringo in Mexico--ah, that is euthanasia!"
Caustic wit and a strong sense of horror mark works, including In the Midst of Life (1891-1892) and The Devil's Dictionary (1906), of American writer Ambrose Gwinett Bierce.
People today best know this editorialist, journalist, and fabulist for his short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge and his lexicon.
The informative sardonic view of human nature alongside his vehemence as a critic with his motto, "nothing matters," earned him the nickname "Bitter Bierce."
People knew Bierce despite his reputation as a searing critic, however, to encourage younger poet George Sterling and fiction author W.C. Morrow.
Bierce employed a distinctive style especially in his stories. This style often embraces an abrupt beginning, dark imagery, vague references to time, limited descriptions, the theme of war, and impossible events.
Bierce disappeared in December 1913 at the age of 71 years. People think that he traveled to Mexico to gain a firsthand perspective on ongoing revolution of that country.
Theories abound on a mystery, ultimate fate of Bierce. He in one of his final letters stated: "Good-bye. If you hear of my being stood up against a Mexican stone wall and shot to rags, please know that I think it is a pretty good way to depart this life. It beats old age, disease, or falling down the cellar stairs. To be a Gringo in Mexico--ah, that is euthanasia!"
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 7, 2022
3 perspectives: the son, the husband, the murdered wife. Bierce's irony and cruelty is in full effect. the mediocre and depressing "lives" of ghosts is discussed. in the end, love shall conquer death but shall bring death as well.
and who was that intruder on the stairs, the man in the night? surely not Nemesis; these fools have done nothing to deserve a nemesis. except to be born, to live, and then to die, as foolish humans.
read this bleak and mordant tale for free:
and who was that intruder on the stairs, the man in the night? surely not Nemesis; these fools have done nothing to deserve a nemesis. except to be born, to live, and then to die, as foolish humans.
read this bleak and mordant tale for free:
October 26, 2022
In Bierce's ghost story, The Moonlit Road "the protagonists fall victim to their own failures of apprehension, having run up against a reality that exceeds their imagination. Like William James, [an American philosopher, historian, and psychologist] who wrote in the same period of the flow of consciousness, Bierce implies that it is not so much the truth of events that matters, but how they are perceived, and the difference that they make to the perceiver. Even quite absurd superstitious beliefs may have devastating effects and prove to be true - in a sense." The Handbook to Gothic Literature (ed. Marie Mulvey-Roberts). New York University Press, 1998. (pp. 23-24)
March 18, 2025
kochani macie halucynacje od pleśni w waszych ścianach 💞
December 19, 2024
The story is written in three PoVs, Joel Hetman Jr., son of Joel and Julia Hetman; a man who calls himself Caspar Grattan, a name he gave himself after he was released from the asylum to which he was admitted when he lost his mind, and the ghost of Julia Hetman, the murdered woman, speaking through a medium.
The story is beautiful. I felt a sense of pity for each of the three characters. The poor creature whose presence in the house is responsible for precipitating the tragedy plays a minor, yet important, role.
Each PoV advances the action forward. It is only after we read the last account, that of the ghost, that we get a sense of the tragedy that has unfolded, and the injustice done to the woman.
You get a sense of life in the asylum: "Gibbering obscenity, peals of joyless laughter, the clang of iron doors."
The story is significant also because of how the author seeks to bear witness to the plight of ghosts, those who have passed on from this world but have yet to find peace.
The story is beautiful. I felt a sense of pity for each of the three characters. The poor creature whose presence in the house is responsible for precipitating the tragedy plays a minor, yet important, role.
Each PoV advances the action forward. It is only after we read the last account, that of the ghost, that we get a sense of the tragedy that has unfolded, and the injustice done to the woman.
You get a sense of life in the asylum: "Gibbering obscenity, peals of joyless laughter, the clang of iron doors."
The story is significant also because of how the author seeks to bear witness to the plight of ghosts, those who have passed on from this world but have yet to find peace.
January 25, 2025
"Fear has no brains; it is an idiot."
"We know this well, we who have passed into the Realm of Terror, who skulk in eternal dusk among the scenes of our former lives, invisible even to ourselves and one another, yet hiding forlorn in lonely places; yearning for speech with our loved ones, yet dumb, and as fearful of them as they of us. Sometimes the disability is removed, the law suspended: by the deathless power of love or hate we break the spell—we are seen by those whom we would warn, console, or punish. What form we seem to them to bear we know not; we know only that we terrify even those whom we most wish to comfort, and from whom we most crave tenderness and sympathy."
"You think that we are of another world. No, we have knowledge of no world but yours, though for us it holds no sunlight, no warmth, no music, no laughter, no song of birds, nor any companionship. O God! what a thing it is to be a ghost, cowering and shivering in an altered world, a prey to apprehension and despair!"
"We know this well, we who have passed into the Realm of Terror, who skulk in eternal dusk among the scenes of our former lives, invisible even to ourselves and one another, yet hiding forlorn in lonely places; yearning for speech with our loved ones, yet dumb, and as fearful of them as they of us. Sometimes the disability is removed, the law suspended: by the deathless power of love or hate we break the spell—we are seen by those whom we would warn, console, or punish. What form we seem to them to bear we know not; we know only that we terrify even those whom we most wish to comfort, and from whom we most crave tenderness and sympathy."
"You think that we are of another world. No, we have knowledge of no world but yours, though for us it holds no sunlight, no warmth, no music, no laughter, no song of birds, nor any companionship. O God! what a thing it is to be a ghost, cowering and shivering in an altered world, a prey to apprehension and despair!"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2023
Audible/podcast version narrated by Tony Walker. This is also available in many ghost story compilations. This short story is told in an interesting manner with multiple viewpoints from multiple narrators. While not in the least spooky it is nonetheless a ghost story worth checking out.
July 6, 2023
I loved the use of the three narrators who all have pieces of the puzzle--but not the whole picture!
October 27, 2023
The moonlit road � Excellent retelling of an event from three POVs. �.. and lay trembling and silent, unable to shriek, forgetful to pray.�
November 18, 2023
I listened to this as part of the Classic Tales of Horror - 500+ Stories. It was very enjoyable 2023
November 18, 2023
My entry from Otto Penzler's Big Book of Ghost Stories
November 13, 2024
bizim bu adamla kimyamız uyuşmuyo. dümdüz ghosty story yazıyomuş gibi geliyo... hâlbuki bunu çok dikkatli okudum ama yine olmadı. belki dersten sonra yükseltirim ama şimdilik bu mlsf.
March 19, 2025
A murder told from three points of view, similar to Rashomon. Bierce has always just the right amount of unclear. And again in this story.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.