The Devil's Dictionary

New York: Thomas Y. Crowell, Publishers, 1979 Book. Illus. by Jean-Claude Suares. Fine. Hardcover. Large 8vo. 156 (3) pp. with b&w illustrations throughout. Book Club (BCE/BOMC), 1979. "The Devil's Dictionary is a satirical dictionary written by Ambrose Bierce consisting of common words followed by humorous and satirical definitions. A masterpiece of satiric art, here are collected his brilliant epigrammatic swipes at Amrican delusions, illusions, follies, and foibles --- as pointed today as when it first appeared in 1908. The lexicon was written over three decades as a series of installments for magazines and newspapers. Bierce's witty definitions were imitated and plagiarized for years before he gathered them into books, first as The Cynic's Word Book in 1906 and then in a more complete version as The Devil's Dictionary in 1911, though he was not the first writer to use amusing definitions as a format for satire. In 1973, the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration was created by an act of Congress to create events and commemorations to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The Bicentennial Administration decided to select The 100 Greatest Masterpieces of American Literature, one hundred books written by Americans that actually helped to shape the very course of our nation. Faculty members of universities in all fifty states submitted nominations. The final choices included 99 volumes of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and plays, but only one volume of humor: The Devil's Dictionary. Suares hilarious and sinister sketches give visual life to the acerbic aphorisms." from the jacket flap. Not Price Clipped. Tiny chip to top edge spine dj, with some addition minor wear to top and botton edge of same, else, Pristine, no wear. Clean, tight and strong binding with no underlining, highlighting or marginalia. Grey cloth with gilt lettering to spine..