One Summer Night

by Ambrose Bierce

One Summer Night by Ambrose Bierce

Genres: Short Stories, Horror, Classics, Gothic, Literature, The United States Of America, Audiobook

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1893

About the author

died 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!"

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a bizarre story of a man named Henry Armstrong who was buried alive. What are the bodysnatchers doing when they see Henry come to life again? What is Jess' role? The twist at the end is extremely macabre and a real jaw dropper. The whole story is very dark and masterly written. Really recommended.

[José Cruz Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nineteenth century writers had an obsession with graves and premature burials. This trope appears in Stevenson, Poe, Bierce, Stoker, and so on and so forth. I assume that Lovecraft read One Summer Night, for Herbert West-Reanimator feels very similar to Bierce's (extremely) short story.

One Summer Night made me realize that Ambrose Bierce is probably the best American writer of his century. I know no other writer who combines humor with terror (or horror) in such an effective way. I mean, look at the first sentence of the text: The fact that Henry Armstrong was buried did not seem to him to prove that he was dead: he had always been a hard man to convince.

[Richie Kercenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent little tale about premature burials and body snatchers. At the time, such matters turned into an obsession and not for nothing. Medical students and doctors relied greatly on the services of body snatchers. The story questions the morality of the latter class of individuals, and whether their greed could take them a step further from robbing graves and snatching bodies to snatching lives from living individuals.

[Anjan Das · Rating 4 out of 5]

সেরা একটা ছোটগল্প।

[Dyson · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

[a · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fact that Henry Armstrong was buried did not seem to him to prove that he was dead: he had always been a hard man to convince.

Though what was going to happen was predictable, the reactions of the two students were very funny. But I am wondering how Henry Armstrong managed to be alive again. Maybe he wasn't, and Jess is pulling a practical joke on the students. I don't know.

Stories like this are my favorite. It doesn't want you to think about it, yet you still do.

[Lea Dokter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice writing style, unexpected shifts and overall a very strong short story: it's very impressive what Bierce can achieve in a few words.

[Nicolás Ortenzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente cuento, terrorífico, me hizo acordar a Edgar Allan Poe y Robert Stevenson. Una fusión al estilo Vegeta y Goku.

[Phil Slattery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another charming tale by Ambrose Bierce, whose writing I am loving more and more. Once again, I can't describe the plot without spoiling the story, but I will say the story is about a man buried alive and three grave-robbers consisting of two medical students in collusion with the cemetery's gravedigger (the story was written in 1893). Though there is a light-hearted, playful quality in the beginning of the story, the final twist takes a turn for the macabre. Once again, this is a very brief story consisting of only 2-3 pages. I recommend it highly.

[Navita · Rating 5 out of 5]

How did Henry Armstrong come alive? Maybe with the thunder. (Reminds me of Frankenstein)

[Eggp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quickie short story
a chance encounter with Jess
means no more headaches.

[K. Anna Kraft · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have arranged my thoughts into a haiku:

"Inhaltable ways.
In light of such stubbornness,
How much can death mean?"

[Joop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leuk klein horror verhaal.

[Leah Markum · Rating 4 out of 5]

For such a short short story, it crosses several marks of interest. One, after reading a Stephen King short story in his sharp and dry style, I love coming to Ambrose Bierce's melodic style. Two, it has a moment when you think you know when the story meets a corny end. Yet three, we get something way better, and it's as much comedy as it is horror. Ah, Bierce, taking another simple yet unique approach.

[Srutirupa Acharya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was a very interesting read. I read the description somewhere as "gruesomely funny". And that's what this is. The writing style of Ambrose is simply delicious. And the proof is this super short story of just 3 pages. I almost could not believe that he was able to achieve so much in such limited number of words. I don't feel it necessary to speak much due to the short length of the story. Instead I would recommend that any one interested should go ahead and try it out. Happy reading!

[Izzati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Possibly the shortest story I have ever read so far but it was packed with a punch. It was quite unpredictable to me too, as I totally expected the opposite of what actually unfurled. I was really tempted to write a review that is longer than the story itself, but let's be honest, there's nothing much to write about without giving it all away.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not at all what I expected. Very thrilling.

[Michael Sorbello · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the dead refuse to remain dead, simply give them a few blows to the head.

[Tasmin Bradshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This made me laugh the whole time. Not in a bad way. I was so amused by it. I need to check out more from this author because that was so good!

[Shaylee]

Very interesting...🤔🤔

[Brendan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was funny and twisted.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

So short, so funny, so dark. So excellent. A story of grave robbing. Brief, fun, packs a wallop. This can be found in Can Such Things Be?

[Forked Radish · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's good to read about someone who takes their vocation seriously.

[Alvaro Hu · Rating 4 out of 5]

One and a half pages of 19th century dark humor, nice

[João Pacheco · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Leftbanker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story about an undead dead guy and grave robbers on a stormy night? Hell yes, count me in.

This is part of my diabolical and perhaps unethical run at reaching 1,000 reviews by the end of this calendar year. This story clocks in at only 616 words, yet I get credit for one entire review. If brevity is the soul of wit, it's also the strategy of a scoundrel.

[Janete on hiatus due health issues · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short, but quite interesting. SYNOPSIS: "It's a terrifying yet humorous tale of Henry Armstrong who is buried – perhaps buried alive – and terrorizes medical school student/grave robbers who chose to steal his body for medical research."

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining horror listening🎧

I listened to this as part of Classic Tales of Horror - 500+ Stories. This story is very interesting with will developed characters.

I would recommed this individual story and box set to readers of horror stories. 2023

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a topical short story about a premature burial, the medical students come to take advantage of a freshly buried corpse who come to find out that the man is in fact not dead, and the graveyard man who takes matters into his own hands. The tone is comically dark and enjoyable.

[Charlotte De L’arte · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the writing style and it is a short story so not much could have been achieved but I thought there would be a point to it. If there was then I missed it, but it felt unfinished