Cobwebs from an Empty Skull

Ambrose Bierce

Publisher: DigiCat

Summary

In "Cobwebs from an Empty Skull," Ambrose Bierce offers a compelling collection of satirical essays that deftly critique the absurdities of human existence and societal conventions. Bierce's sharp wit and dark humor are palpable throughout the work, reflecting the literary style characteristic of the late 19th-century American literary scene. Utilizing a blend of irony and allegory, he dissects topics ranging from politics to philosophy, often leaving readers to ponder the deeper meaning behind his pointed observations. This collection showcases Bierce's ability to intertwine humor with poignant social critique, rendering it a significant artifact of its time. Ambrose Bierce, known for his acerbic pen and enigmatic persona, was not only a notable writer but also a Civil War veteran whose tumultuous experiences undoubtedly informed his worldviews. His encounters with the contradictions of life, death, and morality shaped his unique perspective, making him an astute observer of human folly. Bierce's literary background, coupled with his skepticism towards organized society, fueled the satirical fire that burns throughout "Cobwebs from an Empty Skull." For readers who appreciate thought-provoking satire and the exploration of existential themes, "Cobwebs from an Empty Skull" is an essential read. Bierce's eloquence and incisive analysis invite us to confront our own societal norms and beliefs, making this work not just a source of entertainment but also a powerful commentary on the perplexities of life.

Available since: 09/16/2022.

Print length: 148 pages.

Other books that might interest you

The Black Dress

Deborah Moggach

“A darkly funny novel about betrayal, loneliness and the surprising pleasure of being single again” from the author of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (Good Housekeeping). At sixty-nine years old, Pru has found herself alone for the first time in her life. Her grown children are out of the house, and her husband, Greg, has filed for divorce. She attributes Greg’s betrayal to a cancer scare and a more-than-midlife crisis, but that doesn’t make her feel any better—or less lonely. It seems that nothing—not even her eccentric, free-spirited best friend, Azra—can pull her out of her depression. Until Pru sees a black dress in a thrift store window . . . Its sleek silhouette calls to mind long-gone days of cocktail parties and sophisticated conversation. And it gives Pru a brilliant idea: where better to wear a black dress—and find age-appropriate single men—than at a funeral? As Pru combs through the obituaries and attends masses and wakes, she finds comfort among the bereaved. After all, they’re all grieving someone they have lost. But Pru’s about to discover that though her new dating plan may get her out of the house and back on the market, the life she’s so desperately trying to leave behind isn’t done with her yet . . . “With dry wit and observation, Moggach tackles the perils of ageing with brutal honesty.” —Daily Express “This page-turner is like the best wakes, it will make you feel hungry and alive.” —The Times (London) “As ever with Moggach, the joy is in her witty observations of middle-class life and bracingly tart portrayal of family relationships.” —Daily Mail

Show book

Me and Kaminski

Daniel Kehlmann

From internationally best-selling author Daniel Kehlmann comes this provocative and wickedly funny novel about two unpredictable men—one an artist and the other a journalist—who embark on an unexpected adventure with uproarious results. Sebastian Zollner's failure as a journalist is matched only by his personal failures. Searching for redemption in the eyes of his peers, he heads off into the mountains to interview the eccentric, legendary painter Manuel Kaminski with the hope of writing his biography. Going blind and living in seclusion with his daughter, Kaminski could be working on his next masterpiece or easing into his final days. His artistic reputation hinges on any number of factors, but most prominently on a definitive biography. With edgy wit and intelligence, Kehlmann dives into the question of what is "truth" in our celebrity-crazed times and embraces the energy and humanity that lie beneath the pretensions of the art and journalistic worlds.

Show book

The Robot Who Looked Like Me -...

Robert Sheckley

In "The Robot Who Looked Like Me," a busy man and a busy woman find a way to carve out time to romance each other—by having look-alike robots made to do the job—who then run away together. 
 
 
 
The twelve other stories in this collection are "Slaves of Time," "Voices," "A Supplicant in Space," "Sneak Previews," "Zirn Left Unguarded, the Jenghik Palace in Flames, John Westerly Dead," "Welcome to the Standard Nightmare," "The Never-Ending Western Movie," "What Is Life?", "I See a Man Sitting on a Chair, and the Chair Is Biting His Leg," "Is That What People Do?", "Silversmith Wishes," and "End City." 
 
 
 
From the very beginning of his career, Robert Sheckley was recognized by fans, reviewers, and fellow authors as a master storyteller and the wittiest satirist working in the science fiction field. Rediscover, or discover for the first time, a master of science fiction who, according to the New York Times, was "a precursor to Douglas Adams."

Show book

Do you think I'm insane? and Do...

BARAKATH

Funny and really insane plus stupid lines for you to listen and laugh.

Show book

Miss Plum and Miss Penny

Dorothy Evelyn Smith

"I do not anticipate for one moment that Miss Plum has been murdered, though I should have some slight sympathy with her assassin if she had." 
 
 
 
Miss Penny is a middle-aged spinster living a cheerful, contented life, complete with perfect housekeeper, in an idyllic English village. Her romantic life consists of an annual Christmas card from her old flame George, and her social swirl involves Stanley, a prissy neighbor who keeps her in mind for a future wife, and Hubert, a neurotic widowed priest with an alienated son.  
 
 
 
Into this stable life comes Miss Plum, whom Miss Penny saves from drowning herself in a duck pond and takes into her quiet, orderly home. The villagers embrace the perpetually weepy, forlorn young woman—at first. But soon her welcome wears thin. With joyfully dark comedy, hilariously odd locals, and an unexpected reappearance from long-lost George, Dorothy Evelyn Smith brilliantly evokes the havoc wreaked by social niceties, misplaced sympathies, and keeping up appearances—not to mention the urge to defend one's peaceful existence!

Show book

Knocked Down - A High-Risk Memoir

Aileen Weintraub

A laugh-out-loud memoir about a free-spirited Brooklyn girl who, after a whirlwind romance, finds herself living in a rickety farmhouse, pregnant, and faced with five months of doctor-prescribed bed rest because of unusually large fibroids. 
 
 
 
Aileen Weintraub has been running away from commitment her entire life, hopping from one job and one relationship to the next. When her father suddenly dies, she flees her Jewish Brooklyn community for the wilds of the country, where she unexpectedly falls in love with a man who knows a lot about produce, tractors, and how to take a person down in one jiu-jitsu move. Within months of saying "I do," she's pregnant, life is on track, and then wham! Her doctor slaps a high-risk label on her uterus and sends her to bed for five months. 
 
  
 
As her husband's farmhouse begins to collapse and her marriage starts to do the same, Weintraub finally confronts her grief for her father while fighting for the survival of her unborn baby. Will she stay or will she once again run away from it all? 
 
   
 
Knocked Down is an emotionally charged roller-coaster ride of survival and growth. It is a story about marriage, motherhood, and the risks we take.

Show book