First published in 1911, Ambrose Bierce's The Devil's Dictionary is collected from 30 years of newspapers columns by the contemporary of Mark Twain whom H. L. Mencken called "the one genuine wit These States have ever seen." This edition of the classic of American satire, illustrated by Keith Bendis, was published last fall by Fantagraphics Books.
As Bendis notes in the book's foreword, "For a cartoonist and illustrator, there is nothing more satisfying and fun than to try to match wits with this brilliant humorist." Though Bierce was known (and admired) for his mean streak, Bendis's takes on the writer soften his angry edges, disarming the loaded weapon of Bierce's prose.
Keith Bendis's illustrations have appeared in America's leading publications, including Vanity Fair, the New Yorker, Time, and Sports Illustrated. He's also illustrated 10 books, in collaboration with authors like Joe Queenan and William Kotzwinkle. Bendis lives in Columbia County.
