Can Such Things Be?

Ambrose Gwinnett BierceProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.2

Word count: 346K words
Chapters: 35

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Can Such Things Be? by Ambrose BierceAuthor: Bierce, Ambrose, 1842-1914?,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Aug 1, 2003

Editor's review

Can Such Things Be? is a short story collection by Ambrose Bierce, released free of charge in its original English by Project Gutenberg. Bierce is known for a cold, ironic, and suspenseful style, and this collection showcases his fondness for the supernatural, death, and psychological terror. The stories are brief and tightly paced, often building to unsettling final twists. They suit reading in short fragments and also serve as supplementary material for studying late nineteenth-century American short fiction and the Gothic/weird literature tradition. As a public-domain ebook, the text is easy to obtain, though some pieces contain expressions limited by their era. Overall, the collection is better suited to readers interested in weird fiction, black humor, and short-form narrative technique than to those seeking a continuous long plot or warm-hearted stories.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy Gothic, weird, and supernatural short stories
Readers studying late nineteenth-century American short fiction and satirical literature
Readers who want tightly plotted twist stories for fragmented reading time
Those interested in black humor and a cold, ironic narrative style
Those who need public-domain English texts for reading or teaching materials

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer long, continuous plots and complete character arcs
People sensitive to dark, death-related, and psychological horror themes
Readers hoping for warm, healing, or light stories
Beginners unaccustomed to reading in English or to nineteenth-century narrative cadence

Reading tips

Read one or two stories at a time and watch for the final twist; there is no need to read straight through in order.
As you read, note how each story sets up suspense and chooses its narrative perspective, to appreciate Bierce's structural technique.
For pieces with unfamiliar historical background, first look up an overview of late nineteenth-century American weird literature.
If reading in English is difficult, review the plot with a Chinese translation or annotated edition before returning to the original.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this a novel or a short story collection?

It is a short story collection; the pieces are relatively independent and short, suitable for reading in scattered sessions. Readers can start with any story without worrying about continuity.

What English level is needed to read this book?

The text is the original English, in the American literary language of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, with phrasing and vocabulary that feel dated. Intermediate English reading ability or above is recommended, or use annotations and translations as support.

Is this book suitable as classroom teaching material?

It can serve as supplementary reading for courses on American short fiction, weird literature, or narrative technique. However, some pieces contain expressions limited by their era, so teachers should provide background explanation and appropriate guidance.

What are the features of the Project Gutenberg edition?

This edition is a free public-domain ebook, easy to obtain, with text based on the original work that has entered the public domain. Readers may download and read it freely, but it usually lacks modern editorial notes or introductions, so background materials must be supplied independently.

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About the author

Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce Author · American · 1842–1914

Ambrose Bierce (1842–1914), an American writer, journalist, and satirical novelist, was born in Meigs County, Ohio. A veteran of the American Civil War, he drew heavily on that experience in his fiction. His short story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is known for its startling ending and austere style, while the satirical dictionary "The Devil's Dictionary" is famous for its biting definitions. He excelled in horror and war fiction, writing in a grim, restrained, and ironic style that earned him the nickname "Bitter Bierce." He disappeared in Mexico in 1913, and the exact year of his death is unknown, though some sources give 1914. His work has deeply influenced American short fiction and satirical literature.