An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

This classic short story of a Southern plantation owner facing execution by Union soldiers is âa flawless example of American geniusâ (Kurt Vonnegut). Alabama planter Peyton Farquhar was loyal to the Confederate cause. Now, as the Union Army overtakes the South, he is brought to the edge of a railroad bridgeâhands tied behind his backâsentenced to hang for attempting to burn down the bridge on which he stands. As he ponders the events both large and small that brought him to this moment, Farquhar also contemplates a daring escape. First published in 1890, An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge is one of the most celebrated short stories in American literature. Included in Ambrose Bierceâs anthology, Tales of Soldiers and Civilians, its unique structure and stream of consciousness style have inspired numerous adaptions and countless imitators.