An Occurrence At Owl Creek Bridge

A Creole man is arrested as a Confederate spy and sentenced to hanging on the bridge over Owl Creek. The rope breaks, the man hits the water and dives. Surviving a shower of Yankee bullets he escapes downriver and into the safety of a thicket. He struggles to get home and the story gets increasingly surreal. He is greeted at the gate of his plantation house by his smiling, lovely wife--but--his wife died years earlier.... Rod Steiger adopted this excellent tale for a 'Twilight Zone' Showing. It worked very well.

"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" seems to me like the type of story that a lot of people would read only grudgingly as a school assignment. That's too bad, because this definitely seems like one for the ages to me. Curiously enough, I was led to this story by the TV show --- "Lost," one of the characters on there was reading it. Once I started reading, I was immediately drawn in by this author's storytelling power and ability to create powerful images using words. Some of the language he uses is rather high-toned and may go over the heads of some readers, but I think even if you can't completely understand it, there's quite enough that is understandable for general audiences to still work very well. (And hey --- why not crack that dictionary if you're not certain about some terms?) The plot goes back to the Civil War and it's about a man who is caught and put to death by hanging at a bridge. As you read it, you can absolutely picture this scene in your head and understand what the main chaacter is feeling. This story has a surprising twist ending as well. Now that I've read this, I think I may just seek out more by Ambrose Bierce. I like vivid storytelling and this certain fits the bill.

This doesn't have anything to do with the book listed above, but I figured some people might be interested in this information. This classic tale was put on film in the late Fifties or early Sixties and eventually purchased by Rod Serling and used as an episode of the Twilight Zone. You should be able to purchase this on DVD. It's a classic episode.

This book was very interesting to say the least. It's simple plot and out come where not at all demening to the subject itself. The manner in which it protrayed human thought process was incredible. The main character was a clear example of all men, in there persuit of victory over reality. All in all this story was a great advancement in the history of literature.