<Tr> <Th> Published in </Th> <Td> Tales of Soldiers and Civilians </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Publication date </Th> <Td> 1890 </Td> </Tr> <P> "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" is "one of the most famous and frequently anthologized stories in American literature"; and was written by American Civil War soldier, wit, and writer Ambrose Bierce . Originally published by The San Francisco Examiner on July 13, 1890, it was first collected in Bierce's 1891 book Tales of Soldiers and Civilians . The story, which is set during the Civil War, is famous for its irregular time sequence and twist ending . Bierce's abandonment of strict linear narration in favor of the internal mind of the protagonist is considered an early example of experimentation with stream of consciousness . </P> <P> Author Kurt Vonnegut wrote: "...I consider anybody a twerp who hasn't read the greatest American short story, which is' (An) Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,' by Ambrose Bierce . It isn't remotely political . It is a flawless example of American genius, like' Sophisticated Lady' by Duke Ellington or the Franklin stove ." </P>

When was an occurrence at owl creek bridge written