The Devil's Dictionary

First published as "The Cynic's Word Book" (1906) and later reissued under its preferred name in 1911, Bierce's notorious collection of barbed definitions forcibly contradicts Samuel Johnson's earlier definition of a lexicographer as a harmless drudge.

Bierce's classic work of satirical wit and Steadman's pointed pen redefine the way we see even the seemingly simplest of terms.Acquaintance, n.: A person whom we know well enough to borrow from but not well enough to lend to.Bride, n.: A woman with a great future behind her.Consult, v: To seek another's approval of a course already decided on.Ambrose Bierce's "dictionary" of epigrams, essays, verses, and vignettes targets the religious, the romantic, the political, and the economic, in equal measure. The book you need to define both friends and enemies, "The Devil's Dictionary" is also the perfect gift, showcasing Bierce's razor-sharp wit and Ralph Steadman's incisive pen to their best advantage.