the AMBROSE BIERCE site

Bierce aficionados know that Bierce published his first three books using the pseudonym "Dod Grile" and as "William Herman" for The Dance of Death (1877). But often overlooked are the scores of assumed names Bierce applied in writing the satirical definitions he began in May 1881 in his column "Prattle" in the San Francisco Wasp. The definitions (from A-L) were gathered in The Cynic's Word Book (Doubleday, Page, 1906), and later expanded as The Devil's Dictionary in Volume VII of his Collected Works in 1909. Bierce cleverly used the pseudonyms to cite various "authorities" for the little poems and asides that he himself actually wrote. I apologize in advance if I inadvertently included any real-life figures. Here she is: Father Gassalasca Jape, S.J. Jamrach Holobom Jogo Tyree Jeramy Tate Judibras Jebel Jocordy Junker Barlow Bosley Fito M.P. Nopput Jodo Rem Joel Huck Jebel Dai Lupe Ro Amil Jorace Richard Gwow Atka Mip Bettel K. Jhones Polydore Smith Elevenson Purzil Crofe Anita M. Bobe Quincy Giles Conroe Apel Brune Giacomo Smith Orrin Goof Sir James Merivale Ambit Delaso Squatol Johnes Barlow S. Vode Mumfrey Mappel Israfel Brown Xamba Q. Dar Gopete Sherany J.H. Bumbleshoot Tinley Roquot Rare Ben. Truman Arbely C. Strunk Romach Pute Gat Huckle Joel Frad Bink Hassan Brubuddy Naramy Oaf Bartle Quinker Oran Pludge Aramis Loto Frope Blary O'Gary Admit Huff Bettle Jex Wopley Henry Haukhorn Jared Macphester Darn Leffer Pobeter Dunk Arion Spurl Doke John Lukkus Gorton Swope Bissell Gip Marley Wottel Salder Bupp Fogarty Wefting Alexander Poke Bogul S. Purvy Mary Doke Sukker Uffro Pollo Doncas Apuleius M. Gokul Ariel Selp Sempen Railey Barel Dort Durang Gophel Arn Oogum Ben Baruch de Loppis Dodle Gargo Repsky Sigismund Smith Martha Braymance Han Soper B. Percival Doke Farquharson Harris Venable Strigg Opaline Jones Jared Oopf Apperton Doke Martin Bulstrode S.V. Manipur Judibras Scopas Brune Arpad Singiny Harley Shum Averil Joop Percy P. Orminder Stromboli Smith Dudley Spink John Boop Ro Amil Sukker Uffro Lavatar Shunk Jali Hane Belijah H. Bimbee Worgum Slupsky Orpheus Bowenv Scampbrll Orpheus Bowen Jonathan Fomry Bishop Sheber Oglum P. Boomp Juan Smith Stumpo Gaker Aramis Jukes Bootle P. Gish Jupiter Mukev Thompson Johnson Golgo Brone Hebeeb Suleiman W.J. Candleton Jomater Abemy Barton Maith Politian Greame Joel Spate Woop Mowbray Myles Borey the Bald Joel Buxter Dumbo Omohundro Porfer Poog Barney Stims Fernando Tapple Baruch de Loppis J. Milton Sloluck John William Yope Polydore Smith Edam Smith Jorrock Wormley Swatkin Hannibal Hunisker Anonymus Bink Offenbach Stutz Halcyon Jones Joel Huck Baruch Arnegriff Jum Coople Munwele Top of Page

the AMBROSE BIERCE site