Shapes of Clay
Exploring profound insights in philosophical essaysBy Ambrose Bierce
Length5h 8m
About this audiobook
In "Shapes of Clay," Ambrose Bierce delves into the intricacies of human nature and societal constructs through a series of poignant vignettes that challenge conventional morality and identity. This collection showcases Bierce's characteristic wit and sardonic humor, as he employs a realistic yet poetic literary style reminiscent of naturalism and early modernism. The text embraces philosophical underpinnings, drawing from the turbulent socio-political climate of post-Civil War America, effectively reflecting the disillusionment and existential inquiries of the era. Ambrose Bierce, an influential figure known for his sharp critiques and incisive commentary, had a multifaceted career as a journalist, war correspondent, and writer. His unique life experiences, including his time as a Union soldier and his exposure to the brutalities of war, shaped his worldview and informed his literary craftsmanship. Bierce'Äôs penchant for exploring the darker aspects of humanity and his disillusionment with society manifest profoundly in this work, echoing his belief that life is inherently absurd and tragic. "Shapes of Clay" is highly recommended for those intrigued by philosophical explorations of human nature and the complexities of morality. Through Bierce's masterful storytelling, readers are invited to reflect on their own beliefs and the societal constructs that shape them, making this a timeless exploration that resonates with contemporary audiences.
Audiobook details
GenrePhilosophy
Length5 hrs 8 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateNov 26, 2019
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1PREFACE.: AMBROSE BIERCE.
124THANKSGIVING.
2THE PASSING SHOW.: II.
125SUPERINTENDENT:
3ELIXER VITAE.
126PAUPER:
4CONVALESCENT.
127SUPERINTENDENT:
5AT THE CLOSE OF THE CANVASS.
128PAUPER.
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6NOVUM ORGANUM.
129SUPERINTENDENT:
7GEOTHEOS.
130THE GOD'S VIEW-POINT.
8YORICK.
131THE AESTHETES.
9A VISION OF DOOM.
132JULY FOURTH.
10POLITICS.
133WITH MINE OWN PETARD.
11POESY.
134CONSTANCY.
12IN DEFENSE.
135SIRES AND SONS.
13AN INVOCATION.
136A CHALLENGE.
14RELIGION.
137TWO SHOWS.
15A MORNING FANCY.
138A POET'S HOPE.
16VISIONS OF SIN.: DANENHOWER.
139THE WOMAN AND THE DEVIL.
17THE TOWN OF DAE.
140TWO ROGUES.
18AN ANARCHIST.
141BEECHER.
19AN OFFER OF MARRIAGE.
142NOT GUILTY.
20ARMA VIRUMQUE.
143PRESENTIMENT.
21ON A PROPOSED CREMATORY.
144A STUDY IN GRAY.
22A DEMAND.
145A PARADOX.
23THE WEATHER WIGHT.
146FOR MERIT.
24MY MONUMENT.
147A BIT OF SCIENCE.
25MAD.
148THE TABLES TURNED.
26HOSPITALITY.
149TO A DEJECTED POET.
27FOR A CERTAIN CRITIC.
150A FOOL.
28RELIGIOUS PROGRESS.
151THE HUMORIST.
29MAGNANIMITY.
152MONTEFIORE.
30TO HER.
153A WARNING.
31TO A SUMMER POET.
154DISCRETION.
32ARTHUR McEWEN.
155SHE:
33CHARLES AND PETER.
156HE:
34CONTEMPLATION.
157AN EXILE.
35CREATION.
158THE DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT.
36BUSINESS.
159PSYCHOGRAPHS.
37A POSSIBILITY.
160TO A PROFESSIONAL EULOGIST.
38TO A CENSOR.
161FOR WOUNDS.
39THE HESITATING VETERAN.
162ELECTION DAY.
40A YEAR'S CASUALTIES.
163THE MILITIAMAN.
41INSPIRATION.
164A WELCOME.
42TO-DAY.
165A SERENADE.
43AN ALIBI.
166THE WISE AND GOOD.
44REBUKE.
167THE LOST COLONEL.
45THE DYING STATESMAN.
168FOR TAT.
46THE DEATH OF GRANT.
169A DILEMMA.
47THE FOUNTAIN REFILLED.
170METEMPSYCHOSIS.
48LAUS LUCIS.
171THE SAINT AND THE MONK.
49NANINE.
172THE OPPOSING SEX.
50TECHNOLOGY.
173A WHIPPER-IN.
51A REPLY TO A LETTER.
174JUDGMENT.
52TO OSCAR WILDE.
175THE FALL OF MISS LARKIN.
53PRAYER.
176IN HIGH LIFE.
54A "BORN LEADER OF MEN."
177A BUBBLE.
55TO THE BARTHOLDI STATUE.
178A RENDEZVOUS.
56AN UNMERRY CHRISTMAS.
179FRANCINE.
57AN EPITAPH.
180AN EXAMPLE.
58THE POLITICIAN.
181REVENGE.
59AN INSCRIPTION
182THE GENESIS OF EMBARRASSMENT.
60FROM VIRGINIA TO PARIS.
183IN CONTUMACIAM.
61A "MUTE INGLORIOUS MILTON."
184RE-EDIFIED.
62THE FREE TRADER'S LAMENT.
185A BULLETIN.
63SUBTERRANEAN PHANTASIES.
186FROM THE MINUTES.
64IN MEMORIAM
187WOMAN IN POLITICS.
65THE STATESMEN.
188TO AN ASPIRANT.
66THE BROTHERS.
189A BALLAD OF PIKEVILLE.
67THE CYNIC'S BEQUEST
190A BUILDER.
68CORRECTED NEWS.
191AN AUGURY.
69AN EXPLANATION.
192LUSUS POLITICUS.
70JUSTICE.
193BEREAVEMENT.
71MR. FINK'S DEBATING DONKEY.
194AN INSCRIPTION: FOR A STATUE OF NAPOLEON, AT WEST POINT.
72TO MY LAUNDRESS.
195A PICKBRAIN.
73FAME.
196CONVALESCENT.
74OMNES VANITAS.
197THE NAVAL CONSTRUCTOR.
75ASPIRATION.
198DETECTED.
76DEMOCRACY.
199BIMETALISM.
77THE NEW "ULALUME."
200THE RICH TESTATOR.
78CONSOLATION.
201TWO METHODS.
79FATE.
202FOUNDATIONS OF THE STATE
80PHILOSOPHER BIMM.
203AN IMPOSTER.
81REMINDED.
204UNEXPOUNDED.
82SALVINI IN AMERICA.
205FRANCE.
83ANOTHER WAY.
206THE EASTERN QUESTION.
84ART.
207A GUEST.
85AN ENEMY TO LAW AND ORDER.
208A FALSE PROPHECY.
86TO ONE ACROSS THE WAY.
209TWO TYPES.
87THE DEBTOR ABROAD.
210SOME ANTE-MORTEM EPITAPHS.
88FORESIGHT.
211STEPHEN DORSEY.
89A FAIR DIVISION.
212STEPHEN J. FIELD.
90GENESIS.
213GENERAL B.F. BUTLER.
91LIBERTY.
214A HYMN OF THE MANY.
92THE PASSING OF "BOSS" SHEPHERD.
215ONE MORNING.
93TO MAUDE.
216AN ERROR.
94THE BIRTH OF VIRTUE.
217AT THE "NATIONAL ENCAMPMENT."
95STONEMAN IN HEAVEN.
218THE KING OF BORES.
96THE SCURRIL PRESS.
219HISTORY.
97ONE OF THE UNFAIR SEX.
220THE HERMIT.
98THE LORD'S PRAYER ON A COIN.
221TO A CRITIC OF TENNYSON.
99A LACKING FACTOR.
222THE YEARLY LIE.
100THE ROYAL JESTER.
223COOPERATION.
101A CAREER IN LETTERS.
224AN APOLOGUE.
102THE FOLLOWING PAIR.
225DIAGNOSIS.
103POLITICAL ECONOMY.
226FALLEN.
104VANISHED AT COCK-CROW.
227DIES IRAE.
105THE UNPARDONABLE SIN.
228DIES IRAE.
106INDUSTRIAL DISCONTENT.
229THE DAY OF WRATH.
107TEMPORA MUTANTUR.
230ONE MOOD'S EXPRESSION.
108CONTENTMENT.
231SOMETHING IN THE PAPERS.
109THE NEW ENOCH.
232IN THE BINNACLE.
110DISAVOWAL.
233HUMILITY.
111AN AVERAGE.
234ONE PRESIDENT.
112WOMAN.
235THE BRIDE.
113INCURABLE.
236STRAINED RELATIONS.
114THE PUN.
237THE MAN BORN BLIND.
115A PARTISAN'S PROTEST.
238A NIGHTMARE.
116TO NANINE.
239A WET SEASON.
117VICE VERSA.
240THE CONFEDERATE FLAGS.
118A BLACK-LIST.
241HAEC FABULA DOCET.
119A BEQUEST TO MUSIC.
242EXONERATION.
120AUTHORITY.
243AZRAEL.
121THE PSORIAD.
244AGAIN.
122ONEIROMANCY.
245HOMO PODUNKENSIS.
123PEACE.
246A SOCIAL CALL.
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