Can Such Things Be? is a seminal compilation of Gothic fiction that exemplifies Ambrose Bierce’s preoccupation with the uncanny and the grotesque. The collection, featuring the unsettling tale 'The Death of Halpin Frayser,' serves as a quintessential specimen of late nineteenth-century dark literature, characterized by its sardonic tone and unflinching examination of the macabre.

To ensure accessibility for a global audience, this SimpliCEFR edition meticulously adapts Bierce’s intricate prose into six distinct linguistic levels, ranging from A2 to C2. By maintaining the atmospheric intensity of the original text while refining its structural complexity, this edition offers an invaluable resource for scholars and language learners seeking to engage with canonical Gothic literature.