Recs and props

[charles f albert]

Though Pynchon is undeniably the contemporary master of the art of the 
"nested clause",
I suspect that when the final call is made, it will be generally granted 
that Ambrose Bierce
was unsurpassed with respect to that technique...


He must be among the most underappreciated writers on the planet.......

See for yourself


My Favorite Murder........


"HAVING murdered my mother under circumstances of singular atrocity, I was 
arrested and put upon my trial, which lasted seven years.
  In charging the jury, the judge of the Court of Acquittal remarked that 
it was one of the most ghastly crimes that he had ever been called
  upon to explain away.

    At this, my attorney rose and said:

    "May it please your Honor, crimes are ghastly or agreeable only by 
comparison. If you were familiar with the details of my client's previous
  murder of his uncle you would discern in his later offense (if offense it 
may be called) something in the nature of tender forbearance and filial
consideration for the feelings of the victim. The appalling ferocity of the 
former assassination was indeed inconsistent with any hypothesis but
  that of guilt; and had it not been for the fact that the honorable judge 
before whom he was tried was the president of a life insurance company
  that took risks on hanging, and in which my client held a policy, it is 
hard to see how he could decently have been acquitted. If your Honor
  would like to hear about it for instruction and guidance of your Honor's 
mind, this unfortunate man, my client, will consent to give himself the
  pain of relating it under oath."

http://tinyurl.com/2kshb

This is but a tiny tease of the mayhem which ensues......




love,
cfa