The James Logan Courier

By Faiza Elmasry
VOA News

Foxglove, castor beans, peacock flower trees and opium poppies are among 200 toxic flora Amy Stewart investigates in her book, Wicked Plants. Stewart says she didn't write her book to scare people away from the outdoors, but to help them better understand nature and be aware of what she calls "horticultural villains."

Many of what Stewart calls "wicked plants" have a peaceful and stunning beauty. But she warns us not to be deceived. These are trees that blind, weeds that blister, shrubs that sting and bulbs that kill.

Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce (June 24, 1842[1] – 1914?) was an American editorialist, journalist, short-story writer and satirist. Today, he is best known for his short story, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge and his satirical dictionary, The Devil's Dictionary.

The sardonic view of human nature that informed his work – along with his vehemence as a critic – earned him the nickname "Bitter Bierce". Despite his reputation as a searing critic, however, Bierce was known to encourage younger writers, including poet George Sterling and fiction writer W. C. Morrow. He is known for his distinctive style of writing, which his stories often share. This includes a cold open, use of dark imagery, vague references to time, limited description, war-themed pieces and use of impossible events.

Read The Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce, free from Project Gutenberg.