Ambrose Bierce went into great depth and detail in his story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge." It was apparent to me that he had a real knowledge of the fear that comes before death. Perhaps he learned of these things while fighting in the Civil War.
The story opens with a man (who we later find out is named Farquar) on a bridge with a noose around his neck; this sets the dark tone that flows throughout the whole story. In the moments before Farquar's imminent death he is sent on a wild fantasy in which he just barely escapes his demise. In his imagination he falls from the bridge into the river below where his perilous journey to freedom begins. He is able to free himself from his tethers and escape from his own execution. Bierce so vividly wrote of the adventure that I was surprised in the end when it all turned out to be a fantasy.
Even though I have never had a similar experience I was able to put myself in Farquar's place because of the detail put into the story by Bierce. I have heard many near-death stories, but this is the first where the person is forced into the throes of his imagination. Usually people talk of their life passing before their eyes, but in Bierce's story Farquar is transported into another realm altogether.
Overall, I didn't care for Bierce's subject matter, but he was obviously a very talented writer with a vivid imagination. I was disappointed that the story didn't hold much of Bierce's bitter, ironic humor. In his biography there are several darkly humorous quotes that exemplify his cynical nature. I particularly like the one about birth being the ultimate disaster. I guess I also have a somewhat cynical outlook on life because I can truly relate to his brooding nature.
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