Can Such Things Be?
Can Such Things Be?, first published in 1893, collects Ambrose Bierce's tales of the uncanny. "The Death of Halpin Frayser" opens with a man waking in a forest to speak a name he does not know; "The Moonlit Road" tells a murder from three points of view, one of them the victim's, speaking through a medium; "Moxon's Master" concerns a chess-playing automaton; "A Tough Tussle" and "One of Twins" turn on soldiers and doubles. The volume closes with the lyrical "Haïta the Shepherd" and "An Inhabitant of Carcosa," whose imaginary city was later borrowed by other writers. Bierce's manner is cold, precise and sardonic, and his ghosts are seldom explained. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first story is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Can Such Things Be?
Can Such Things Be? by Ambrose Bierce can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Can Such Things Be? online?
Yes. Can Such Things Be? opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Can Such Things Be? free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Can Such Things Be? is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Can Such Things Be? in the public domain?
Yes. Can Such Things Be? by Ambrose Bierce is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Can Such Things Be??
About 4 h of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Can Such Things Be??
Can Such Things Be? by Ambrose Bierce is filed under "Short Stories" in the Vinteuil library.
