Autobiographical prose by Ambrose Bierce: topography, chronology, imaginative features
https://doi.org/10.24224/2227-1295-2026-15-6-317-332
Abstract
The article suggested represents the first attempt in Russian literary criticism to interpret the autobiographical prose of the American writer Ambrose Bierce (1842—1914?) as an integral phenomenon. The paper defines the boundaries and the main steps of the phenomenon development, examines the topography and chronology of the essays, genre and artistic style features. The paper focuses on the cycle “Bits of Autobiography” (1909), as well as episodes are not included in. Special attention is paid to the writer’s essays on the U.S. Civil War of the North and South — the most voluminous and dramatic part of his “memoirs”. Also examines the origins, history and evolution of the narrative, what factors shaped the author’s position, determined the features of the artist’s reflection, and influenced the stylistics of his works. Bierce was the first in US literature to attempt to deheroize the war, showing its inhumanity and cruelty — the American “lost generation” and, in particular, Ernest Hemingway, who saw the master as one of his mentors, would follow the path he had trodden.
Keywords
Supporting agencies: The study was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation № 25-28-02573, https://rscf.ru/project/25-28-02573/; Russian Christian Fyodor Dostoevsky Academy for Humanities
About the Author
A. B. Tanaseichuk
National Research Ogarev Mordovia State University; Russian Christian Academy for Humanities named after Fyodor Dostoevsky
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Andrey B. Tanaseichuk - Doctor of Cultural Studies, Docent, Professor of the Department of Russian and Foreign Literature.
Saransk, St. Petersburg
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Review
For citations:
Tanaseichuk A.B. Autobiographical prose by Ambrose Bierce: topography, chronology, imaginative features. Nauchnyi dialog. 2026;15(6):317-332. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24224/2227-1295-2026-15-6-317-332
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