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The Mysterious Stranger
This is the only authoritative text of this late novel. It reproduces the manuscript which Mark Twain wrote last, and the only one he finished or called the "The Mysterious Stranger." Albert Bigelow Paine's edition of the same name has been shown to be a textual fraud.
198 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1916
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About the author
Mark Twain
8,872 books18.7k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist and essayist. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has produced," with William Faulkner calling him "the father of American literature." His novels include The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), with the latter often called the "Great American Novel." Twain also wrote A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1889) and Pudd'nhead Wilson (1894), and co-wrote The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today (1873) with Charles Dudley Warner.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist and essayist. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has produced," with William Faulkner calling him "the father of American literature." His novels include The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), with the latter often called the "Great American Novel." Twain also wrote A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1889) and Pudd'nhead Wilson (1894), and co-wrote The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today (1873) with Charles Dudley Warner.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,053 reviews
April 4, 2019
The Mysterious Stranger is not a success. Twain never published it, and with good reason, for his approach to his title character in particular and the whole project in general is tonally ambivalent, philosophically inconsistent, and thematically scattered. Add to this the fact that the setting of the fifteenth century Austrian village is poorly realized and the ending is at best inconclusive, and you aren't left with much to praise--except for Twain's satiric observations, of course..
I believe it is unfair to come down too hard on this book, because Twain never published it himself, and because its textual history—which is too complex and boring to go into here—is a ratking of confusion. In any case, the handsome teenage Satan (named after his more famous uncle) who becomes the idol of the boys in a small Austrian village is little more than a mouthpiece for every cynical, vicious observation Twain wishes to make about the venality and self-regard of humankind, and—unlike the classic demonic personae of Marlowe, Milton, and Goethe—there is no real self at the heart of Twain's Satan, no real “there” there.
But Twain does have a lot to say about that hated creature man, and, since Twain is still Twain, his remarks are usually interesting. It is true that financial and personal loss made him a very bitter man at the end, possibly a little unhinged (at least philosophically), but this bitterness focuses his individual remarks and often makes them more potent and pointed. Unfortunately, though, it does nothing for the rambling plot, the inconsistent characters, or the cloudy theme.
I can't help wondering, though...somewhere, in the byzantine textual history of The Mysterious Stranger is a fragment of a version set in Twain's hometown, featuring both Tom and Huck in minor roles. Hmm...”Tom and Huck Meet Teenage Satan.” Now that's a book I'd like to read!
Here a few representative passages from the book:
No brute ever does a cruel thing—that is the monopoly of those with the Moral Sense. When a brute inflicts pain he does it innocently; it is not wrong; for him there is no such thing as wrong. And he does not inflict pain for the pleasure of inflicting it—only man does that. Inspired by that mongrel Moral Sense of his!
...Christianity was born. Then ages of Europe passed in review before us, and we saw Christianity and Civilization march hand in hand through those ages, 'leaving famine and death and desolation in their wake, and other signs of the progress of the human race,' as Satan observed.
"...you have made continual progress. Cain did his murder with a club; the Hebrews did their murders with javelins and swords; the Greeks and Romans added protective armor and the fine arts of military organization and generalship; the Christian has added guns and gunpowder; a few centuries from now he will have so greatly improved the deadly effectiveness of his weapons of slaughter that all men will confess that without Christian civilization war must have remained a poor and trifling thing to the end of time.
February 27, 2009
A number of Mark Twain’s lesser-known stories remain virtually unheard of - not because they aren’t good – but because they’d offend too many people.
His short novel The Mysterious Stranger, published posthumously in 1916, certainly qualifies in this regard. It’s not going to be on any of the official reading lists of the various public schools named after him. And it’s an absolutely hilarious and caustic little paperback that you need to get familiar with.
This book will be of interest to anyone suspicious of religion in general. For non-theists that have grown accustomed to the standard academic treatments of the reasons for rejecting belief, as well-written as many have been of late, this book provides a fresh perspective and change of pace. The force of the satire that this irreverent, scathing genius brings down upon the entire Christian conception of God and Moral Sense is really something to behold.
In late sixteenth century Austria, a group of boys meet an angel that has appeared one day. The angel’s name is Satan (no, not the Satan, merely his cousin, hence the same family name). Satan gives them an education, both through words and deeds, about some Ultimate Truths. Here’s a brief excerpt of his examination of God Himself:
In this 120-page work you can feel a lifetime of the great man’s anger, frustration, and contempt for so much baloney (baloney that was taken even more seriously in Twain’s day than it is in ours) on every page. This story belongs in the same class as Voltaire’s Candide and Vonnegut’s The Sirens of Titan as the best of that rare breed: atheist-themed fiction.
His short novel The Mysterious Stranger, published posthumously in 1916, certainly qualifies in this regard. It’s not going to be on any of the official reading lists of the various public schools named after him. And it’s an absolutely hilarious and caustic little paperback that you need to get familiar with.
This book will be of interest to anyone suspicious of religion in general. For non-theists that have grown accustomed to the standard academic treatments of the reasons for rejecting belief, as well-written as many have been of late, this book provides a fresh perspective and change of pace. The force of the satire that this irreverent, scathing genius brings down upon the entire Christian conception of God and Moral Sense is really something to behold.
In late sixteenth century Austria, a group of boys meet an angel that has appeared one day. The angel’s name is Satan (no, not the Satan, merely his cousin, hence the same family name). Satan gives them an education, both through words and deeds, about some Ultimate Truths. Here’s a brief excerpt of his examination of God Himself:
… a God who could make good children as easily as bad, yet preferred to make bad ones; who could have made every one of them happy, yet never made a single happy one; who made them prize their bitter life, yet stingily cut it short; who gave his angels eternal happiness unearned, yet required his other children to earn it; who gave his angels painless lives, yet cursed his other children with biting miseries and maladies of mind and body; who mouths justice and invented hell – mouths Golden Rules, and forgiveness multiplied by seventy time seven, and invented hell; who mouths morals to other people and has none himself; who frowns upon crimes, yet commits them all; who created man without invitation, then tries to shuffle the responsibility for man’s acts upon man, instead of honorably placing it where it belongs, upon himself; and finally, with altogether divine obtuseness, invites this poor, abused slave to worship him!
In this 120-page work you can feel a lifetime of the great man’s anger, frustration, and contempt for so much baloney (baloney that was taken even more seriously in Twain’s day than it is in ours) on every page. This story belongs in the same class as Voltaire’s Candide and Vonnegut’s The Sirens of Titan as the best of that rare breed: atheist-themed fiction.
August 16, 2016
In the first act, Mark Twain introduces a mysterious stranger to town, and the way he does it is twisty and thrilling and, well... Mysterious. And then there's the antagonist, the evil Astrologer, who lives in the crumbling tower on the outskirts of town and has a man imprisoned for the sake of stealing money. To bring justice, Twain pits the stranger, with the help of a few young boys, against the Astrologer.
It's a really fun setup, but in the second act, the stranger takes the boys across the world to show how crooked and unjust humankind is everywhere, even in the boys' own village, where the townsfolk are burning "witches" at the stake.
It becomes a preachy tale about the corruptness of organized religion and all the faults of civilization--Things that at the time might've been pretty daring and original, but by now are overdone and understood. Worst of all, it's kind of a thematic and philosophical mess--the stranger's motives and actions almost always coming off as incomprehensible, just like the Christian God he criticizes.
The saving grace is definitely the third act, though. Twain has one last trick up his sleeve, a pretty genius twist, that even today can still raise a lot of questions, and really makes you think about the boys who befriend the stranger, and yourself by proxy.
For a two hour read, it was definitely satisfying. The preachy part, although exceptionally bad by Twain's standards, didn't go on for long enough to ruin the entire story, not with how great the beginning and end are. I think 4 stars might be a little generous. Personally, I saw a lot of what this story could have been, rather than what it actually was.
It's a really fun setup, but in the second act, the stranger takes the boys across the world to show how crooked and unjust humankind is everywhere, even in the boys' own village, where the townsfolk are burning "witches" at the stake.
It becomes a preachy tale about the corruptness of organized religion and all the faults of civilization--Things that at the time might've been pretty daring and original, but by now are overdone and understood. Worst of all, it's kind of a thematic and philosophical mess--the stranger's motives and actions almost always coming off as incomprehensible, just like the Christian God he criticizes.
The saving grace is definitely the third act, though. Twain has one last trick up his sleeve, a pretty genius twist, that even today can still raise a lot of questions, and really makes you think about the boys who befriend the stranger, and yourself by proxy.
For a two hour read, it was definitely satisfying. The preachy part, although exceptionally bad by Twain's standards, didn't go on for long enough to ruin the entire story, not with how great the beginning and end are. I think 4 stars might be a little generous. Personally, I saw a lot of what this story could have been, rather than what it actually was.
August 14, 2012
This is said to be Mark Twain's least known work - and the last he had ever written. Reading the book, I finally understood why it never became as popular as the stories of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyers. This is a book of a silent yet profound contemplation of humanity. It is a comedy of sorts, and the object of the author's humor is the grotesque bigotry, self-importance, and logic of man. Twain portrays humanity here at its worst. It begins with a boy's encounter with an angel and ends with his bitter realization that nothing in this world is real, lasting. The angel's discourse about people and the boy's education are dramatic, encompassing all cultures and beliefs, elaborating on the very root of mankind's oppression, degradation and discontent. One could not read this book and not feel the sting of Twain's anger and disillusionment.
August 31, 2022
Не знаю, насколько это детская книга, но она с глубоким смыслом, с большим антирелигиозным подтекстом, который может кого-то смутить. Твен написал три версии, но закончить не успел. Все три версии подверглись доработкам, переделкам, смягчениям жёстких моментов со стороны хранителей его творчества. (Не пойму, хранить - значит обеспечивать точность, сохранность идей и мыслей великого писателя, а переделывать - значит посчитать свои переделки более совершенными, чем исходный материал). Прочитанный мной вариант романа - тот, который в средневековой Австрии, в период охоты на ведьм и бесконечных костров.
Твен поднимает большое количество философских и социальных вопросов. Вот, например, эпизод, когда толпа бросает камни в женщину, в том числе и рассказчик. Сатана сообщает, что из шестидесяти восьми человек шестидесяти двум не хотелось бросать в эту женщину камнем.
"Я хорошо изучил людей. Они — овечьей породы. Они всегда готовы уступить меньшинству. Лишь в самых редких, в редчайших случаях большинству удается изъявить свою волю. Обычно же большинство приносит в жертву и чувства свои и убеждения, чтобы угодить горлодерам. Иногда горлодеры правы, иногда нет, для толпы это не имеет большого значения, — она подчиняется и в том и в другом случае. Люди — дикие или цивилизованные, все равно — добры по своей натуре и не хотят причинять боль другим, но в присутствии агрессивного и безжалостного меньшинства они не смеют в этом признаться. Призадумайся на минуту. Добрый в душе человек шпионит за другим человеком, таким же, как он, чтобы толкнуть его на поступок, который обоим гадок. Мне достоверно известно, что девяносто девять из каждых ста человек были решительно против убийства ведьм, когда много лет назад кучка святош затеяла это безумие. Я утверждаю, что и сейчас, после того как суеверия вбивались столетиями людям в голову, не более чем один человек из двадцати в них действительно верит. И тем не менее каждый кричит о злокозненных ведьмах и каждый требует, чтобы их убивали. Но однажды поднимется горстка людей, которая сумеет перекричать остальных, может быть, это будет даже один человек, храбрец со здоровой глоткой и твердой решимостью, — и не пройдет недели, как овцы все повернут за ним и вековой охоте на ведьм наступит конец.
Монархии, аристократические правления и религии основывают свою власть на этом коренном недостатке людей. Суть его в том, что человек не верит другим людям, но, трепеща за свое благоденствие и свою жизнь, делает все, чтобы подладиться к ним.
Монархии, аристократические правления и религии будут и впредь процветать, а вы будете под ярмом, оскорбленные и униженные, потому что вы рабы меньшинства и хотите оставаться рабами. Не было и не будет такой страны, где большинство было бы действительно предано монарху, вельможе или священнику!"
Какая глубокая мысль! Это те самые случаи, когда добрые, хорошие люди делают плохие вещи. Это то свойство человеческой природы, почему случаются войны, почему были и сейчас возможны ужасы тирании.
Книга неоднозначная, Сатана, несмотря на свои сверхъестественные способности предпочитает умерщвлять или сводить с ума людей, считая, что им так будет лучше. Конец мне показался невнятным, с его идеей, что жизнь - это сон. Нет ничего, кроме пустоты и тебя, вернее твоих мыслей, - считает писатель.
Твен поднимает большое количество философских и социальных вопросов. Вот, например, эпизод, когда толпа бросает камни в женщину, в том числе и рассказчик. Сатана сообщает, что из шестидесяти восьми человек шестидесяти двум не хотелось бросать в эту женщину камнем.
"Я хорошо изучил людей. Они — овечьей породы. Они всегда готовы уступить меньшинству. Лишь в самых редких, в редчайших случаях большинству удается изъявить свою волю. Обычно же большинство приносит в жертву и чувства свои и убеждения, чтобы угодить горлодерам. Иногда горлодеры правы, иногда нет, для толпы это не имеет большого значения, — она подчиняется и в том и в другом случае. Люди — дикие или цивилизованные, все равно — добры по своей натуре и не хотят причинять боль другим, но в присутствии агрессивного и безжалостного меньшинства они не смеют в этом признаться. Призадумайся на минуту. Добрый в душе человек шпионит за другим человеком, таким же, как он, чтобы толкнуть его на поступок, который обоим гадок. Мне достоверно известно, что девяносто девять из каждых ста человек были решительно против убийства ведьм, когда много лет назад кучка святош затеяла это безумие. Я утверждаю, что и сейчас, после того как суеверия вбивались столетиями людям в голову, не более чем один человек из двадцати в них действительно верит. И тем не менее каждый кричит о злокозненных ведьмах и каждый требует, чтобы их убивали. Но однажды поднимется горстка людей, которая сумеет перекричать остальных, может быть, это будет даже один человек, храбрец со здоровой глоткой и твердой решимостью, — и не пройдет недели, как овцы все повернут за ним и вековой охоте на ведьм наступит конец.
Монархии, аристократические правления и религии основывают свою власть на этом коренном недостатке людей. Суть его в том, что человек не верит другим людям, но, трепеща за свое благоденствие и свою жизнь, делает все, чтобы подладиться к ним.
Монархии, аристократические правления и религии будут и впредь процветать, а вы будете под ярмом, оскорбленные и униженные, потому что вы рабы меньшинства и хотите оставаться рабами. Не было и не будет такой страны, где большинство было бы действительно предано монарху, вельможе или священнику!"
Какая глубокая мысль! Это те самые случаи, когда добрые, хорошие люди делают плохие вещи. Это то свойство человеческой природы, почему случаются войны, почему были и сейчас возможны ужасы тирании.
Книга неоднозначная, Сатана, несмотря на свои сверхъестественные способности предпочитает умерщвлять или сводить с ума людей, считая, что им так будет лучше. Конец мне показался невнятным, с его идеей, что жизнь - это сон. Нет ничего, кроме пустоты и тебя, вернее твоих мыслей, - считает писатель.
July 31, 2024
“Dream other dreams and better!”
With The Mysterious Stranger Mark Twain created a twisted morality play. Angel Satan (nephew and namesake of the Fallen One) befriends three boys in a 16th century Austrian village, Eseldorf (German for Donkeytown). In this backwards and superstitious village, he proceeds to school the boys on the ridiculousness of religion, the meanness of human life, the principles of determinism, and above all, the valuelessness of “the moral sense.” He creates a pageant of wonders, miraculously proving his points again and again, despite the boys unwillingness to believe his harsh lessons.
Despite the 16th century Austrian setting, Eseldorph feels just like the little Missouri towns Twain grew up in and wrote of. Theodor and Seppi could just as easily be Huck and Tom. And the angel Satan is a transparent mouthpiece for delivering Twain’s own skeptical and misanthropic world view. Setting the story across the ocean and three hundred years in the past did little to hide that Twain was savaging the cultural institutions and hypocrisy of his own time and country.
Twain wrote several versions of this story, none of them fully completed, and it was patched together and published after his death. The haphazard way it was put together hardly matters, though. It has no consistent plot, and the characters exist only as vehicles to deliver Twain’s sad and bitter sermon.
Read The Mysterious Stranger, if for nothing else, for Satan’s final message to Theodor. When I first read it as a young teen it shook me, and even now, forty-five years later and knowing what was coming it was a powerful and thought provoking ending.
With The Mysterious Stranger Mark Twain created a twisted morality play. Angel Satan (nephew and namesake of the Fallen One) befriends three boys in a 16th century Austrian village, Eseldorf (German for Donkeytown). In this backwards and superstitious village, he proceeds to school the boys on the ridiculousness of religion, the meanness of human life, the principles of determinism, and above all, the valuelessness of “the moral sense.” He creates a pageant of wonders, miraculously proving his points again and again, despite the boys unwillingness to believe his harsh lessons.
Despite the 16th century Austrian setting, Eseldorph feels just like the little Missouri towns Twain grew up in and wrote of. Theodor and Seppi could just as easily be Huck and Tom. And the angel Satan is a transparent mouthpiece for delivering Twain’s own skeptical and misanthropic world view. Setting the story across the ocean and three hundred years in the past did little to hide that Twain was savaging the cultural institutions and hypocrisy of his own time and country.
Twain wrote several versions of this story, none of them fully completed, and it was patched together and published after his death. The haphazard way it was put together hardly matters, though. It has no consistent plot, and the characters exist only as vehicles to deliver Twain’s sad and bitter sermon.
Read The Mysterious Stranger, if for nothing else, for Satan’s final message to Theodor. When I first read it as a young teen it shook me, and even now, forty-five years later and knowing what was coming it was a powerful and thought provoking ending.
January 29, 2013
This review will contain spoilers.
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The Mysterious Stranger is a short novella, in which Mark Twain, (it would seem), embodies his hatred of Christianity, condemnation of mankind, and ultimate nihilism. The story takes place in a remote village in late 16th century Austria; the village of Eseldorf, which is situated in a valley surrounded by wooded precipices and cliffs, overlooked by a castle laying on one. The inhabitants of Eseldorf are simpletons; largely ignorant of the world beyond their village.
Within this village, three boys are close companions since their earliest childhood, who spend their free hours together playing outside and keeping one another's company; Theodor, Nikolaus, and Seppi. One day, as they lay on the ground after a hike, one pulls out a pipe, and wishes to smoke. Alas, they had left their flint and steel to light the tobacco in the castle, (they had spent the previous night there), and disappointingly put down the pipe. They were interrupted by this at the arrival of a youth who had just run out of the woods towards where the boys were laying, telling them to wait and that he could light the pipe. At his mere whim, the tobacco was inflamed and smoke was released from the pipe. The boys were astonished, and inquired as to who the stranger was. He announced that he was an angel, and when the boys asked him of his name, he plainly told them that he was named Satan. Unsurprisingly they were shocked and frightened that they were apparently in the presence of the Dark Lord, but he reassured them that it was only his family name, and the real Satan was his uncle.
Throughout the story, Satan appears at random, (he is only known to the three boys, when he appeared in plain sight to everyone else, he was known as Philip Traum), and incited various events to which the villagers are bewildered and frightened; always speculative that someone amongst them was wielding devilish powers in the form of witchcraft. Although, this is always the work of Satan, sometimes possessing a villager so as to make it seem as though they are responsible. These include giving a cat to an impoverished family that would cause a sum of money to appear in the pocket of the owner every morning as well as unlimited food, clothes, and other provisions, the appearance of a tremendous sum of money lying on a path, enabling an old man to sustain a hundred brass balls in a perpetual circle in the air, (as if one were juggling, but with no hands), and then to summer-sault along a high-wire, and many more, although the villagers (with the exception of the three boys), are always ignorant as to the cause of this.
There is much philosophical discussion between Satan and the narrator, (who is one of the boys), Theodor. Usually much of this is Satan's response to the thought-responses and reactions of Theodor, although sometimes his part of the discussion is verbal. Whenever a calamity occurs, (and there are several), Satan will "overhear" the thoughts of Theodor, who inquires as to why this occurs, to which Satan would inevitably reply something of the same message as "the human race is insignificant, hypocritical, pointless, worthless, of no value" and so on, so as to justify the death or peril of one, and it usually follows with, "there are more", or "we can make more".
Satan has the ability to appear at any place at any time, knows everything, is constantly aware of everyone's thoughts, can cause objects to appear at any time. He brings joyous gaiety to all around him. He even can, (and does multiple times throughout the novella), alter fate. There is never mentioned any limitation of his power, so as to make one wonder whether his power is limited at all. It is mentioned numerously that he is ultimately "beyond" the human race in almost every respect. And when Theodor wonders (in thought) why Satan is so indifferent to humanity, the latter contrasts this to an elephant worrying or even carrying about the fate and well-being of a spider that happened to crawl by; worrying whether it enjoys a long and full life, dies old and happy, and so on, multiplying this by a thousand, (it was a large number, I can't remember which). At another instance he asks Theodor to compare a leaf (I think it was a leaf), to Ceaser. Yet, he announces that what he is doing is ultimately for the benefit of the village. Usually this involves the sudden or imminent death of someone, rather than a lifetime of cruelty and struggle, (such as in one instance, where Nikolaus, one of the three boys dies in an attempt of saving a local girl from drowning, instead of him actually saving her and catching a severe fever and becoming paralyzed by it, clinging to a miserable life for more than forty years thereafter).
His indifference to humanity in general is in exception to the three boys, whom he said that he liked. I was confused as to this, why he should like the boys and perform miracles and entertainments for them, and yet bestow pitiless indifference among the rest of the human race, with no stated difference between the boys and humanity in general. On numerous occasions, in fact, most of their conversation, Satan constantly emphasizes the stupidity, pointlessness, vanity, and hopelessness of humanity. Yet, he does not hate them, and says when Theodor wonders if he does, Satan responds with a position of indifference, rather than hate.
Satan states that the "Moral Sense" obviously a conception of morality, wherein Man has the opportunity to choose between Good or Evil and, "nine times out of ten chooses the latter", is a blemish, and an something which he does not possess. Indeed, Satan says numerously that he has no knowledge of evil, and thus can not do it; even saying this after arranging someone's death. I am clueless as to whether this the sarcasm of Twain, or if this is supposed to be serious. Perhaps the author is trying to make an argument as to morality not existing, or at least being illusory or artificial, as Satan is omniscient, and has no knowledge of it.
The the various episodes of "witchcraft" incited by Satan, his input and the reaction of the villagers, (which comprises much of the content of the novella that is not conversation or any other sort of interaction between Theodor and Satan, comes to an abrupt halt when after Theodor, (the narrator), says that Satan had not showed up for a very long time, he appeared before him, and informed him that he would not return. This would be the final goodbye, for he had matters to attend to in other parts of the universe, (and it is not clear why he would have arrived to Eseldorf in the first place). Theodor was very upset by this, and asked if they would perhaps meet in another life. Satan's response is perhaps the most shocking part of the story. He says that there is no other, and that even this life is just a dream, and that nothing truly exists. He says that he doesn't even exist, and the only thing that does exist is you, an aimless thought, wondering about in the void of emptiness and space. He then disappears.
The ending is not logically sound, obviously and, if he intended it, would indicate Twain's nihilism, (although it must be noted that this is the very end of the story, and the author died before the story was finished; notes were found and someone else finished it, and no one knows where the second author begins, although it is quite possible that this is not the ending that Twain intended). Along with this nihilism, constant indication of the ultimate vanity of morality, hatred, (or in Satan's case, indifference), of the human race through Satan, Twain gives strong hints as to his hatred of Christianity as well, (there is, however, no way to know if this was the author's intention, as it is a piece of fiction and not ever stated to a reflection of the authors actual beliefs and opinions, although it would strongly indicate that it is). As Satan is showing Theodor and Seppi, (Nikolaus had drowned), a progress of the human race, he states that of all civilizations, only Christendom had intentionally improved upon war and was engulfed in constant violence, and incessant "sin", (citing numerous Bible stories as part of the "history" such as Cain's murder of Able, etc.), and even towards the very end, (indeed, where he claims that God didn't even exist), he states the preposterousness that a God who could have made His children happy but preferred for them to be in anguish, invented hell, imposed numerous rules but Himself followed none, invented hell, (this is listed more than once), and other things, could have existed.
In conclusion, this is a good story in my opinion. There didn't seem to be much progression of plot and it ended abruptly and oddly, (granted, the author died before it was completely, so this is excused from my criticism, but not my mention). Sometimes it seemed almost like a Platonic discussion in the Socratic Method in some of the conversations between Theodor and Satan. That said, it was well written, and the narrative never was hard to follow or choppy. Indeed, all throughout it was concise and easy to understand. I would disagree with his, (or rather "Satan's") position about humanity and theology, and certainly his claim that all of life is a dream and does not actually exist. However, I do appreciate and think it important to ponder these speculations. If one were only to hear what they already agreed with and "knew to be certain", then no one would learn, and nothing would be gained but gratification to one's own presuppositions. It being so small, (I read it not hurriedly in only a few hours), it is not a serious investment of time to read, and is worth the time put in. In fact, I really appreciate novellas sometimes, because they can capture the value and message of a story without the "filler" (drivel and other stuffing that novels usually have, that do not contribute to the aforementioned, but only lengthen the story and can definitely bog it down). Short and sweet, is certainly an applicable description of this book, and I encourage that you read it. Even if you do not appreciate the speculative and philosophical value of it, (and that isn't to say, agree or disagree, but rather, whether you understand or care about it or not), it is an entertaining story. I would encourage your reading of it.
--
The Mysterious Stranger is a short novella, in which Mark Twain, (it would seem), embodies his hatred of Christianity, condemnation of mankind, and ultimate nihilism. The story takes place in a remote village in late 16th century Austria; the village of Eseldorf, which is situated in a valley surrounded by wooded precipices and cliffs, overlooked by a castle laying on one. The inhabitants of Eseldorf are simpletons; largely ignorant of the world beyond their village.
Within this village, three boys are close companions since their earliest childhood, who spend their free hours together playing outside and keeping one another's company; Theodor, Nikolaus, and Seppi. One day, as they lay on the ground after a hike, one pulls out a pipe, and wishes to smoke. Alas, they had left their flint and steel to light the tobacco in the castle, (they had spent the previous night there), and disappointingly put down the pipe. They were interrupted by this at the arrival of a youth who had just run out of the woods towards where the boys were laying, telling them to wait and that he could light the pipe. At his mere whim, the tobacco was inflamed and smoke was released from the pipe. The boys were astonished, and inquired as to who the stranger was. He announced that he was an angel, and when the boys asked him of his name, he plainly told them that he was named Satan. Unsurprisingly they were shocked and frightened that they were apparently in the presence of the Dark Lord, but he reassured them that it was only his family name, and the real Satan was his uncle.
Throughout the story, Satan appears at random, (he is only known to the three boys, when he appeared in plain sight to everyone else, he was known as Philip Traum), and incited various events to which the villagers are bewildered and frightened; always speculative that someone amongst them was wielding devilish powers in the form of witchcraft. Although, this is always the work of Satan, sometimes possessing a villager so as to make it seem as though they are responsible. These include giving a cat to an impoverished family that would cause a sum of money to appear in the pocket of the owner every morning as well as unlimited food, clothes, and other provisions, the appearance of a tremendous sum of money lying on a path, enabling an old man to sustain a hundred brass balls in a perpetual circle in the air, (as if one were juggling, but with no hands), and then to summer-sault along a high-wire, and many more, although the villagers (with the exception of the three boys), are always ignorant as to the cause of this.
There is much philosophical discussion between Satan and the narrator, (who is one of the boys), Theodor. Usually much of this is Satan's response to the thought-responses and reactions of Theodor, although sometimes his part of the discussion is verbal. Whenever a calamity occurs, (and there are several), Satan will "overhear" the thoughts of Theodor, who inquires as to why this occurs, to which Satan would inevitably reply something of the same message as "the human race is insignificant, hypocritical, pointless, worthless, of no value" and so on, so as to justify the death or peril of one, and it usually follows with, "there are more", or "we can make more".
Satan has the ability to appear at any place at any time, knows everything, is constantly aware of everyone's thoughts, can cause objects to appear at any time. He brings joyous gaiety to all around him. He even can, (and does multiple times throughout the novella), alter fate. There is never mentioned any limitation of his power, so as to make one wonder whether his power is limited at all. It is mentioned numerously that he is ultimately "beyond" the human race in almost every respect. And when Theodor wonders (in thought) why Satan is so indifferent to humanity, the latter contrasts this to an elephant worrying or even carrying about the fate and well-being of a spider that happened to crawl by; worrying whether it enjoys a long and full life, dies old and happy, and so on, multiplying this by a thousand, (it was a large number, I can't remember which). At another instance he asks Theodor to compare a leaf (I think it was a leaf), to Ceaser. Yet, he announces that what he is doing is ultimately for the benefit of the village. Usually this involves the sudden or imminent death of someone, rather than a lifetime of cruelty and struggle, (such as in one instance, where Nikolaus, one of the three boys dies in an attempt of saving a local girl from drowning, instead of him actually saving her and catching a severe fever and becoming paralyzed by it, clinging to a miserable life for more than forty years thereafter).
His indifference to humanity in general is in exception to the three boys, whom he said that he liked. I was confused as to this, why he should like the boys and perform miracles and entertainments for them, and yet bestow pitiless indifference among the rest of the human race, with no stated difference between the boys and humanity in general. On numerous occasions, in fact, most of their conversation, Satan constantly emphasizes the stupidity, pointlessness, vanity, and hopelessness of humanity. Yet, he does not hate them, and says when Theodor wonders if he does, Satan responds with a position of indifference, rather than hate.
Satan states that the "Moral Sense" obviously a conception of morality, wherein Man has the opportunity to choose between Good or Evil and, "nine times out of ten chooses the latter", is a blemish, and an something which he does not possess. Indeed, Satan says numerously that he has no knowledge of evil, and thus can not do it; even saying this after arranging someone's death. I am clueless as to whether this the sarcasm of Twain, or if this is supposed to be serious. Perhaps the author is trying to make an argument as to morality not existing, or at least being illusory or artificial, as Satan is omniscient, and has no knowledge of it.
The the various episodes of "witchcraft" incited by Satan, his input and the reaction of the villagers, (which comprises much of the content of the novella that is not conversation or any other sort of interaction between Theodor and Satan, comes to an abrupt halt when after Theodor, (the narrator), says that Satan had not showed up for a very long time, he appeared before him, and informed him that he would not return. This would be the final goodbye, for he had matters to attend to in other parts of the universe, (and it is not clear why he would have arrived to Eseldorf in the first place). Theodor was very upset by this, and asked if they would perhaps meet in another life. Satan's response is perhaps the most shocking part of the story. He says that there is no other, and that even this life is just a dream, and that nothing truly exists. He says that he doesn't even exist, and the only thing that does exist is you, an aimless thought, wondering about in the void of emptiness and space. He then disappears.
The ending is not logically sound, obviously and, if he intended it, would indicate Twain's nihilism, (although it must be noted that this is the very end of the story, and the author died before the story was finished; notes were found and someone else finished it, and no one knows where the second author begins, although it is quite possible that this is not the ending that Twain intended). Along with this nihilism, constant indication of the ultimate vanity of morality, hatred, (or in Satan's case, indifference), of the human race through Satan, Twain gives strong hints as to his hatred of Christianity as well, (there is, however, no way to know if this was the author's intention, as it is a piece of fiction and not ever stated to a reflection of the authors actual beliefs and opinions, although it would strongly indicate that it is). As Satan is showing Theodor and Seppi, (Nikolaus had drowned), a progress of the human race, he states that of all civilizations, only Christendom had intentionally improved upon war and was engulfed in constant violence, and incessant "sin", (citing numerous Bible stories as part of the "history" such as Cain's murder of Able, etc.), and even towards the very end, (indeed, where he claims that God didn't even exist), he states the preposterousness that a God who could have made His children happy but preferred for them to be in anguish, invented hell, imposed numerous rules but Himself followed none, invented hell, (this is listed more than once), and other things, could have existed.
In conclusion, this is a good story in my opinion. There didn't seem to be much progression of plot and it ended abruptly and oddly, (granted, the author died before it was completely, so this is excused from my criticism, but not my mention). Sometimes it seemed almost like a Platonic discussion in the Socratic Method in some of the conversations between Theodor and Satan. That said, it was well written, and the narrative never was hard to follow or choppy. Indeed, all throughout it was concise and easy to understand. I would disagree with his, (or rather "Satan's") position about humanity and theology, and certainly his claim that all of life is a dream and does not actually exist. However, I do appreciate and think it important to ponder these speculations. If one were only to hear what they already agreed with and "knew to be certain", then no one would learn, and nothing would be gained but gratification to one's own presuppositions. It being so small, (I read it not hurriedly in only a few hours), it is not a serious investment of time to read, and is worth the time put in. In fact, I really appreciate novellas sometimes, because they can capture the value and message of a story without the "filler" (drivel and other stuffing that novels usually have, that do not contribute to the aforementioned, but only lengthen the story and can definitely bog it down). Short and sweet, is certainly an applicable description of this book, and I encourage that you read it. Even if you do not appreciate the speculative and philosophical value of it, (and that isn't to say, agree or disagree, but rather, whether you understand or care about it or not), it is an entertaining story. I would encourage your reading of it.
December 18, 2022
بیگانهای در دهکده اثری است، که پس از مرگ نویسنده به چاپ رسیده که در آن تواین طنز طبیعی و دوستانه خود را مانند سنگ سخت میکند تا رمانی تلخ بنویسد، با طنزی بدبینانه و سرخورده، که در آن نژاد بشر و کلیساها را به شدت زیر سوال میبرد. آنها را فریب دهندگان مردم ساده میدانست.
متاسفانه کتابی که در دست ما است کامل نیست و بسیاری از قسمت های کتاب توسط دیگران دستکاری شده. چرا که چندین سال پس از مرگ او، کتاب توسط مجری کارش، آلبرت بیپین، با توافق دختر نویسنده، کلارا، منتشر شد. هر دو متعلق به کلیسایی به نام ساینس مسیحی بودند و توافق کردند که توهینآمیزترین بخشها را با کشیشها حذف کنند (آنها آن بخشها را "فحشا" نامیدند) و همچنین شخصیتی را اختراع کردند که به او حقههایی را که در رمان اصلی حمل میشد نسبت دهند (توسط کشیش تفتیش عقاید). آن شخصیت که همان ستاره شناس است، در اثر اصلی وجود ندارد.
تواین تنها و افسرده رمانی بدبینانه را تولید کرد که در آن ارزش نوع بشر، معنای وجود آن و شرارتی که ما با آن ارتباط داریم زیر سوال میبرد. این یک رمان فلسفی، تلخ، و در عین حال آسان، سرگرم کننده و حتی خنده دار است. خیلی از موضوعاتی که به آن میپردازد هنوز بسیار جاری هستند. رفتارهای متفاوت انسان در طول قرون و اعصار تاریخ، تردیدی به جای نمیگذارد که نوع بشر از اشتباهات خود درس نمیگیرد. این رمان انسان را به فکر وامیدارد، طنز او بسیار به روز است، بسیار مدرن، اسیدی و نافذ است، تقریباً به همه چیز میخندد، اما مهم تر از همه تعصب و مذهب... این است که خواننده نمیتواند از مقایسه آن با دورانی که در آن ز��دگی میکند دست بکشد.
متاسفانه کتابی که در دست ما است کامل نیست و بسیاری از قسمت های کتاب توسط دیگران دستکاری شده. چرا که چندین سال پس از مرگ او، کتاب توسط مجری کارش، آلبرت بیپین، با توافق دختر نویسنده، کلارا، منتشر شد. هر دو متعلق به کلیسایی به نام ساینس مسیحی بودند و توافق کردند که توهینآمیزترین بخشها را با کشیشها حذف کنند (آنها آن بخشها را "فحشا" نامیدند) و همچنین شخصیتی را اختراع کردند که به او حقههایی را که در رمان اصلی حمل میشد نسبت دهند (توسط کشیش تفتیش عقاید). آن شخصیت که همان ستاره شناس است، در اثر اصلی وجود ندارد.
تواین تنها و افسرده رمانی بدبینانه را تولید کرد که در آن ارزش نوع بشر، معنای وجود آن و شرارتی که ما با آن ارتباط داریم زیر سوال میبرد. این یک رمان فلسفی، تلخ، و در عین حال آسان، سرگرم کننده و حتی خنده دار است. خیلی از موضوعاتی که به آن میپردازد هنوز بسیار جاری هستند. رفتارهای متفاوت انسان در طول قرون و اعصار تاریخ، تردیدی به جای نمیگذارد که نوع بشر از اشتباهات خود درس نمیگیرد. این رمان انسان را به فکر وامیدارد، طنز او بسیار به روز است، بسیار مدرن، اسیدی و نافذ است، تقریباً به همه چیز میخندد، اما مهم تر از همه تعصب و مذهب... این است که خواننده نمیتواند از مقایسه آن با دورانی که در آن ز��دگی میکند دست بکشد.
February 6, 2016
Τέταρτο βιβλίο του Μαρκ Τουέιν που πέφτει στα χέρια μου, μετά τα δυο κλασικά και τρομερά βιβλία με τον Τομ Σόγιερ και τον Χακ Φιν που διάβασα το 2005, στις αρχές της εφηβείας μου δηλαδή (πως περνάνε τα χρόνια ρε!), και την νουβέλα "Ο Τομ Σόγιερ ντετέκτιβ" που διάβασα το 2010. Το μικρό αυτό μυθιστόρημα (ή, πιο σωστά, μεγάλη νουβέλα) διαφέρει αρκετά σε θεματολογία και ατμόσφαιρα με τα προαναφερθέντα βιβλία και είναι σαφέστατα για μεγαλύτερες ηλικίες. Βρισκόμαστε σ'ένα χωριουδάκι κάπου στην Αυστρία, γύρω στα 1590, με την μικρή και κλειστή κοινωνία να είναι ιδιαίτερα θρησκευτική και συντηρητική, με τον διωγμό των "μαγισσών" να είναι στα φόρτε του. Μια μέρα κάνει την εμφάνισή του ένας μυστηριώδης ξένος, υπερφυσικής προέλευσης, ονόματι Σατανάς, και κάνει τα πράγματα άνω κάτω.
Έχουμε να κάνουμε μ'ένα βιβλίο που δίνει μπόλικη τροφή για σκέψη, μιας και μέσω των χαρακτήρων και των καταστάσεων θίγονται πολλά σημαντικά θέματα όπως η ανθρώπινη φύση και κοινωνία, η ηθική, η θρησκεία, και πάει λέγοντας. Ο Μαρκ Τουέιν τα χώνει κανονικά στον θρησκευτικό φανατισμό και τον συντηρητισμό και μας δείχνει με γλαφυρό τρόπο τον σκοταδισμό που επικρατούσε εκείνα τα χρόνια. Η γραφή είναι πραγματικά πάρα πολύ καλή, με φιλοσοφική διάθεση σε ορισμένα σημεία και με μπόλικη υπόγεια ειρωνεία. Γενικά πρόκειται για ένα πολύ ενδιαφέρον και σημαντικό βιβλίο, που σε σχετικά μικρό χώρο ασχολείται με καίρια ζητήματα, καταφέρνοντας να περάσει και πολλά μηνύματα.
Έχουμε να κάνουμε μ'ένα βιβλίο που δίνει μπόλικη τροφή για σκέψη, μιας και μέσω των χαρακτήρων και των καταστάσεων θίγονται πολλά σημαντικά θέματα όπως η ανθρώπινη φύση και κοινωνία, η ηθική, η θρησκεία, και πάει λέγοντας. Ο Μαρκ Τουέιν τα χώνει κανονικά στον θρησκευτικό φανατισμό και τον συντηρητισμό και μας δείχνει με γλαφυρό τρόπο τον σκοταδισμό που επικρατούσε εκείνα τα χρόνια. Η γραφή είναι πραγματικά πάρα πολύ καλή, με φιλοσοφική διάθεση σε ορισμένα σημεία και με μπόλικη υπόγεια ειρωνεία. Γενικά πρόκειται για ένα πολύ ενδιαφέρον και σημαντικό βιβλίο, που σε σχετικά μικρό χώρο ασχολείται με καίρια ζητήματα, καταφέρνοντας να περάσει και πολλά μηνύματα.
January 23, 2022
The rough narrative structure of this novella reminds us that Twain never got around to editing and polishing a final version before he died. Unfortunate.
It was only just last year that I read Milton's "Paradise Lost." From my theological training, I immediately saw that his epic poem was a kind of theodicy, i.e. a defense of the goodness and omnipotence of God in the face of evil and seemingly random suffering in the world. (I've studied this question and I consider it THE theological problem that no Christian apologist can effectively answer).
I also saw in Milton, what many have observed, that Lucifer-Satan is the most attractive character in the whole epic. He'd rather rule in Hell than serve in Heaven.
Twain's Satan in his story is also a fallen angel, Philipp Traum, who claims to be the nephew of Satan. The tale takes place in a gothic setting in a medieval Austrian village, Eseldorf (German for "Assville"), full of superstitious people with a Roman Catholic Bishop and a thuggish priest who rule over them through fear and guilt.
Meanwhile, Traum quickly catches on as a printer's apprentice. He displays magical powers. But also demonstrates he's an agent of destruction; he creates children from clay, then destroys them. He generates earthquakes and other disasters that kill people. Traum takes three village boys---Theodor, Seppi, and Nikolaus---on a magic carpet ride to other parts of the world to show them more tragic events, in this case inspired by religious fanaticism. There's a strong element in Twain's story of what today we'd call magical realism.
Traum vanishes and the people are left with a world with no God, no heaven or hell, no morality, no kindness. The human race is on its own. It's likely the way Twain himself saw it at the end of his life.
It was only just last year that I read Milton's "Paradise Lost." From my theological training, I immediately saw that his epic poem was a kind of theodicy, i.e. a defense of the goodness and omnipotence of God in the face of evil and seemingly random suffering in the world. (I've studied this question and I consider it THE theological problem that no Christian apologist can effectively answer).
I also saw in Milton, what many have observed, that Lucifer-Satan is the most attractive character in the whole epic. He'd rather rule in Hell than serve in Heaven.
Twain's Satan in his story is also a fallen angel, Philipp Traum, who claims to be the nephew of Satan. The tale takes place in a gothic setting in a medieval Austrian village, Eseldorf (German for "Assville"), full of superstitious people with a Roman Catholic Bishop and a thuggish priest who rule over them through fear and guilt.
Meanwhile, Traum quickly catches on as a printer's apprentice. He displays magical powers. But also demonstrates he's an agent of destruction; he creates children from clay, then destroys them. He generates earthquakes and other disasters that kill people. Traum takes three village boys---Theodor, Seppi, and Nikolaus---on a magic carpet ride to other parts of the world to show them more tragic events, in this case inspired by religious fanaticism. There's a strong element in Twain's story of what today we'd call magical realism.
Traum vanishes and the people are left with a world with no God, no heaven or hell, no morality, no kindness. The human race is on its own. It's likely the way Twain himself saw it at the end of his life.
November 10, 2018
دنیاومافیها مانند هر رویایی سخت و به آشکار نامعقول است. خدایی دارد که به همان آسانی که می تواند بندگان بد بیافریند به خلق بندگان خوب نیز توانا است، و معذالک آفرینش بندگان بد را ترجیح می دهد؛ می تواند همه آنهارا خوشبخت کند، و معذلک حتی یک نفر را برای نمونه خوشبخت نمیسازد؛ آنها را وا می دارد که به این دنیای دون و مرارت بار دل ببندند، و آنگاه به هریکی پنج روزی بیش فرصت نمی دهد؛ به فرشتگان خود گنج سعادت ابدی را بی هیچ رنجی ارزانی داشته، و معذلک فرزندان دیگر خود را واداشته است که در راه تحصیل این گنج موهوم رنج موفور بر خود هموار کنند؛ به فرشتگان خود زندگی بی درد و الم ارزانی داشته ، و آنگاه به فرزندان دیگر خود حیاتی آکنده از فلاکت و ادبار و بیماری روحی و جسمی تحمیل کرده است؛ از عدالت دم می زند، دوزخ نیز دارد؛ از باران رحمت دم میزند، دوزخ نیز دارد؛ از قوانین طلایی و بخشایش الهی دم میزند، دوزخ نیز دارد؛ به دیگران درس اخلاق میدهد، و خود از اخلاق بویی نبرده است؛ از وقوع جنایت به خشم می آید، و خود به هر جنایتی دست میزند؛ انسان را بدون رضایت انسان خلق کرده است، و آنگاه مسئولیت اعمال او را به جای آنکه شرافتمندانه به گردن مسئول واقعی آنها بگذارد می خواهد برعهده ضعیف خود انسان تحمیل کند؛ و پس از همه اینها با آن وسعت نظر و سعه صدر علوی و الهی خود از انسان، از این بنده حقیر سراپا تقصیر، می خواهد که او را پرستش کند!
February 4, 2017
I swear Bulgakov got a hold of this and picked the best parts for transmogrification into The Master & Margarita. A gigantic parade of corpses, a talking cat (Mary Margaret Florence Baker G. Nightingale), and the appearance of a banjo-playing minstrel (who in my mind looks just like Koroviev, but African American...) in the narrator's medieval Austrian print-shop. In a disused castle. So much weirder, creepier, more moving, and existentially fraught than Letters From the Earth, but with all the anti-religious venom you could hope for. Bad ass.
February 5, 2023
Свикнала съм книгите на Марк Твен да предлагат пълна десекция на заобикалящата ме реалност. Времето на написването на " Тайнственият непознат " много точно се съпоставя с времето на четенето й. Като в огледало се отразяват схващанията, че парите правят авторитетите; че външния блясък и самочувствието привличат вниманието и едновременно с това отвличат погледа от подмолността и зловредието. Защото людете харесват красивите думи, големите обещания, показните жестове и запомнящите се зрелища. Иначе нямаше да вярват на политиците. И тогава. И днес.
" Тайнственият непознат " беше най - дълго четената от мен книга на Марк Твен. Беше дълга, разтеглива, една и съща мисъл се повтаряше на различни места. Липсваше ми краткия и точен изказ на любимия ми писател. Но зад цялата тромавост на историята пак се открояваше болезнено откровеното представяне на онези елементи от живота, които толерираме, въпреки че заплашват да деформират света ни. Фалш, идолопоклонничество, религиозен фанатизъм и противопоставянето между хората. Там са още. С нас. И ще пребъдат ! Май.
Ние, людете, не се променяме, не поумняваме и си оставаме в плен на ниските страсти и високо самомнение !
" Тайнственият непознат " беше най - дълго четената от мен книга на Марк Твен. Беше дълга, разтеглива, една и съща мисъл се повтаряше на различни места. Липсваше ми краткия и точен изказ на любимия ми писател. Но зад цялата тромавост на историята пак се открояваше болезнено откровеното представяне на онези елементи от живота, които толерираме, въпреки че заплашват да деформират света ни. Фалш, идолопоклонничество, религиозен фанатизъм и противопоставянето между хората. Там са още. С нас. И ще пребъдат ! Май.
Ние, людете, не се променяме, не поумняваме и си оставаме в плен на ниските страсти и високо самомнение !
July 4, 2024
A deeply pessimistic tract by a writer we tend to think of mostly for his humorous take on the foibles of humanity. But much is both painful and true.
August 3, 2011
To me, I think problems can only begin to be solved once they're recognized as such; this could work on a societal level too. And so it genuinely saddens me that one-hundred years after Mark Twain's railing against human nature and its major institutions (government and religion), practically nothing has changed, because the things he speaks of truly are a part of human nature, as it seems. The most damning one of all is Satan's speaking of the nature of war, a conversation which could've taken place yesterday, or any time in the past hundred years, which Twain hits the nail on the head with in a way that takes great will power to not quote the whole passage here. But I truly think that if someone, especially in America (or any country that has fought like 20 wars in the past 100 years) read this passage on war, they'd either have an enlightening, epiphanic moment and/or feel something akin to oppressive shame. Chapter's 7, 9, and 11 contain Satan's most potent critiques of humanity; an absolutely scathing, misanthropic mostly-one-sided dialogue, where Twain's Satan speaks truths that anyone will, should, realize the moment it's read. Twain is very clever and does an excellent job articulating all his misanthropic feelings. Another thing that's really great about this book is Twain's idea of Satan. Satan is an omniscient being where everything he does seems bad on surface level (killing and causing insanity), but he actually does what's best for each person (though the closing dialogue may alter our perception on this a bit). I haven't gotten to reading the Adventures of Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn, but I'm assuming The Mysterious Stranger doesn't get nearly as much attention because those two aren't even on the same plateau of philosophical significance that the latter holds, although I hope I'm wrong. To me, this novella is a masterpiece and may as well be a treatise on human nature... or a basis for a manifesto to fix ourselves.
September 15, 2015
Free download available at Project Gutenberg.
Page 57:
Monarchies, aristocracies, and religions are all based upon that large defect in your race - the individual's distrust of his neighbor, and his desire, for safety's or comfort's sake, to stand well in his neighbor's eye. These institutions will always remain, and always flourish, and always oppress you, affront you, and degrade you, because you always be and remain slaves of minorities.
Page 63:
"What an ass you are!" he said. "Are you so unobservant as not to have found out that sanity and happiness are an impossible combination? No sane man can be happy, for to him life is real, and he sees what a fearful thing it is. Only the mad can be happy, and not many of those.
Page 68:
It is true, that which I have revealed to you; there is no God, no universe, no human race, no earthly life, no heaven, no hell. It is all a dream - a grotesque and foolish dream. Nothing exists but you. And you are but a thought - a vagrant thought, a useless thought, a homeless thought, wandering forelimb among the empty eternities!"
Page 57:
Monarchies, aristocracies, and religions are all based upon that large defect in your race - the individual's distrust of his neighbor, and his desire, for safety's or comfort's sake, to stand well in his neighbor's eye. These institutions will always remain, and always flourish, and always oppress you, affront you, and degrade you, because you always be and remain slaves of minorities.
Page 63:
"What an ass you are!" he said. "Are you so unobservant as not to have found out that sanity and happiness are an impossible combination? No sane man can be happy, for to him life is real, and he sees what a fearful thing it is. Only the mad can be happy, and not many of those.
Page 68:
It is true, that which I have revealed to you; there is no God, no universe, no human race, no earthly life, no heaven, no hell. It is all a dream - a grotesque and foolish dream. Nothing exists but you. And you are but a thought - a vagrant thought, a useless thought, a homeless thought, wandering forelimb among the empty eternities!"
July 18, 2021
A disturbing series of conversations with Satan. Not my kind of thing.
July 4, 2013
This is a great little book. I agree with Twain's opinions to a large degree, but I cannot agree completely. I think Twain became an Atheist....I am not. I am not a believer but I still hope for a God that mankind cannot comprehend nor describe.
A very important and still timely idea expressed in this book is that humans are a lower order of animal than the wild beast because of his Moral Sense. Twain said that 95% of people are like sheep and cattle that stupidly follow the herd and are led by the minorities who make the most noise. All one has to do is watch cable news and get confirmation of this sad fact.
The mysterious stranger was an Angel named Satan, not the Devil but the Devil's nephew. He was beautiful, charming and gave the people what they thought they wanted. I personally don't believe in the Devil or Hell or the rest of the tools of fear used by religion and religious people. I do believe there is in every human, including me, a devilish nature. Some have a greater power to resist this devilish nature, and some enjoy and utilize this nature to gain advantage over others. Laws are supposed to protect the lesser guilty, but greed and corruption within the systems of law are one of those minorities.
A very important and still timely idea expressed in this book is that humans are a lower order of animal than the wild beast because of his Moral Sense. Twain said that 95% of people are like sheep and cattle that stupidly follow the herd and are led by the minorities who make the most noise. All one has to do is watch cable news and get confirmation of this sad fact.
The mysterious stranger was an Angel named Satan, not the Devil but the Devil's nephew. He was beautiful, charming and gave the people what they thought they wanted. I personally don't believe in the Devil or Hell or the rest of the tools of fear used by religion and religious people. I do believe there is in every human, including me, a devilish nature. Some have a greater power to resist this devilish nature, and some enjoy and utilize this nature to gain advantage over others. Laws are supposed to protect the lesser guilty, but greed and corruption within the systems of law are one of those minorities.
June 3, 2021
مقصود نویسنده را کامل درک نکردم اما جاهایی که فهمیدم، نکات بکر و تکاندهندهای را در خود داشتند.
October 7, 2022
تم مذهبی داشت، من دوسش نداشتم. نسخهی صوتیش رو از فیدیبو گوش دادم و به نظرم خیلی طولانی اومد و یه جاهاییش دیگه واقعا حوصلهسربر بود…
January 3, 2016
En una lejana aldea de un campo de Austria en el año 1590 existe un pueblo aislado del resto del mundo que vive en el Medievo, donde sus habitantes son gente supersticiosa y creyente. Tres amigos; Nicolás, Seppi y Theodoro Fischer se encuentran de repente con un personaje que cambiara sus vidas, el ángel Satán. Sobrino de Satanás, es un ser sabio, arrollador y poderoso que esté investigando a los humanos por simple curiosidad, y que es capaz de complacerlos con maravillas inimaginables. Pero la llegada de este ser a este pueblo solo causara revuelos y problemas.
Novela póstuma del Mark Twain, que tiene como curiosidad la existencia de tres versiones diferentes, siendo finalmente la publicada en 1916 una mezcla de ellas y revisada por Albert Bigelow Paine. La historia está narrada en primera persona por el joven Theodor Fischer, que añade su punto de vista, pensamientos y reflexiones en cada momento. Es una novela con un fuerte espíritu filosófico, con poder de denuncia social, y con ligeros toques tanto fantásticos como históricos.
El tema principal de todo el relato es el sentido de la moral, la diferencia entre el bien y el mal, y el comportamiento humano. Los diferentes comportamientos del ser humano son llevados a un gran examen, dejando una profunda reflexión sobre nuestra forma de actuar. Podría decirse que estamos ante un ensayo de los valores humanos, sobre la soberbia, la envidia y los pecados que cometemos una y otra vez; tales como robar, matar, excesos…etc. El tema del destino y el tiempo es también recurrente en el relato, mostrando como pequeños cambios o acciones en nuestra vida puede modificar nuestro futuro. Obviamente la religión también tiene la parte que se merece.
Esta edición de Libros del Zorro Rojo además esta ilustrada por ATAK, pseudónimo de Georg Barber, un artista berlines con larga trayectoria. Las ilustraciones logran captar de forma muy colorista y a través de formas desdibujadas el contenido de la obra a la perfección, aportándole un granito más a la historia. Un libro que recomiendo a todo el mundo para despertar su mente, plantearse por qué y cómo hace las cosas, o incluso, qué consecuencias puede tener cada una de nuestras acciones en la vida.
Novela póstuma del Mark Twain, que tiene como curiosidad la existencia de tres versiones diferentes, siendo finalmente la publicada en 1916 una mezcla de ellas y revisada por Albert Bigelow Paine. La historia está narrada en primera persona por el joven Theodor Fischer, que añade su punto de vista, pensamientos y reflexiones en cada momento. Es una novela con un fuerte espíritu filosófico, con poder de denuncia social, y con ligeros toques tanto fantásticos como históricos.
El tema principal de todo el relato es el sentido de la moral, la diferencia entre el bien y el mal, y el comportamiento humano. Los diferentes comportamientos del ser humano son llevados a un gran examen, dejando una profunda reflexión sobre nuestra forma de actuar. Podría decirse que estamos ante un ensayo de los valores humanos, sobre la soberbia, la envidia y los pecados que cometemos una y otra vez; tales como robar, matar, excesos…etc. El tema del destino y el tiempo es también recurrente en el relato, mostrando como pequeños cambios o acciones en nuestra vida puede modificar nuestro futuro. Obviamente la religión también tiene la parte que se merece.
Esta edición de Libros del Zorro Rojo además esta ilustrada por ATAK, pseudónimo de Georg Barber, un artista berlines con larga trayectoria. Las ilustraciones logran captar de forma muy colorista y a través de formas desdibujadas el contenido de la obra a la perfección, aportándole un granito más a la historia. Un libro que recomiendo a todo el mundo para despertar su mente, plantearse por qué y cómo hace las cosas, o incluso, qué consecuencias puede tener cada una de nuestras acciones en la vida.
May 13, 2017
This was probably one of the best books I think I have read in a long time. I was NOT expecting this from the guy who wrote Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer.
Holy cow.
Well, I guess a guy who wrote mostly Southern novels and is considered one the best humorists in history can't always be funny. Still, I was not expecting this from Mark Twain.
In some versions of the novel, the "mysterious stranger" is either known as No. 44 or Satan. Yes, Satan. Except he's not really Satan but is instead Satan's nephew. Still creepy.
What's funny is the last novel I reviewed, The Picture of Dorian Gray was written by a man who mostly wrote comedy and is also considered on of the greatest humorists of the 20th century. Told ya' not everybody can write in one subject. Also, on a side note from this review, READ THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY! It's also one of the greatest novels I've ever read.
So back to the Mysterious Stranger...
Well, it's mysterious. That's for sure. It also questions God himself and we get to get opinions on Lucifer's fall from heaven from Lucifer's own nephew. Mark Twain was after all, an atheist, so I'm sure that his strong atheistic views helped write this novella. It's really, really good, no matter what religion you belong to. However, I think if you're a rather religious Christian, I will admit that it does question the faith at some points and does point out some fallacies, even though it is rather subtle...so be prepared for that.
This is a really, really, really good novella. It can get kinda long and tedious but it sure does pick up its pace and is very chilling. I'm not sure if I can call this a horror story but as something more philosophical and in some cases, possibly surreal. It's beautiful no matter what way you look at it.
On this note, PLEASE READ THIS STORY. On my opinion, it's Mark Twain's best story bar none. It's kind of obscure to this day but it was made into a creepy tv show that was banned (even though I thought it was beautiful). I believe it's on Netflix now so of you have a chance to come across it, please watch it.
Holy cow.
Well, I guess a guy who wrote mostly Southern novels and is considered one the best humorists in history can't always be funny. Still, I was not expecting this from Mark Twain.
In some versions of the novel, the "mysterious stranger" is either known as No. 44 or Satan. Yes, Satan. Except he's not really Satan but is instead Satan's nephew. Still creepy.
What's funny is the last novel I reviewed, The Picture of Dorian Gray was written by a man who mostly wrote comedy and is also considered on of the greatest humorists of the 20th century. Told ya' not everybody can write in one subject. Also, on a side note from this review, READ THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY! It's also one of the greatest novels I've ever read.
So back to the Mysterious Stranger...
Well, it's mysterious. That's for sure. It also questions God himself and we get to get opinions on Lucifer's fall from heaven from Lucifer's own nephew. Mark Twain was after all, an atheist, so I'm sure that his strong atheistic views helped write this novella. It's really, really good, no matter what religion you belong to. However, I think if you're a rather religious Christian, I will admit that it does question the faith at some points and does point out some fallacies, even though it is rather subtle...so be prepared for that.
This is a really, really, really good novella. It can get kinda long and tedious but it sure does pick up its pace and is very chilling. I'm not sure if I can call this a horror story but as something more philosophical and in some cases, possibly surreal. It's beautiful no matter what way you look at it.
On this note, PLEASE READ THIS STORY. On my opinion, it's Mark Twain's best story bar none. It's kind of obscure to this day but it was made into a creepy tv show that was banned (even though I thought it was beautiful). I believe it's on Netflix now so of you have a chance to come across it, please watch it.
November 28, 2019
عجب اینجاست که تو سال ها، قرن ها، بل هزاره ها پیش متوجه این امر نشده ای. زیرا تو یکه و تنها از ازل تا ابد وجود داشته ای. واقعا عجب اینجاست که تو گمان هم نبرده ای که جهان و هر چه در او هست هیچ در هیچ است. عجیب است، زیرا دنیا و مافیها مانند هر رویایی سخت و به اشکار نامعقول است.
خدایی دارد که به همان آسانی که می تواند بندگان بد بیافریند به خلق بندگان خوب نیز تواناست، و با وجود این آفرینش بندگان بد را ترجیح می دهد! می تواند همه آنها را خوشبخت کند و با وجود این حتی یک نفر را برای نمونه خوشبخت نمی سازد!
ان ها را وا می دارد که به این دنیای دون و زندگی مرارت بار دل ببندند و آنگاه به هر یک چند روزی بیش فرصت نمی دهد.
به فرشتگان خود گنج سعادت ابدی را بی هیچ رنجی ارزانی داشته، و با وجوداین فرزندان دیگر(بشر) خود را واداشته است که در راه تحصیل این گنج موهوم رنج موفور بر خود هموار کنند. به فرشتگان خود زندگی بی درد و الم ارزانی داشته و انگاه به فرزندان دیگر خود حیاتی آکنده از فلاکت و ادبار و بیماری روحی و جسمی تحمیل کرده است.
از عدالت دم می زند، دوزخ نیز دارد...!
از باران رحمت دم می زند، دوزخ نیز دارد...
از قوانین طلایی و بخشایش الهی دم می زند، دوزخ نیز دارد...
انسان را بدون رضایت انسانی خلق کرده است و آنگاه مسئولیت اعمال او را بجای اینکه شرافتمندانه به گردن مسئول واقعی آن ها بگذارد، می خواهد بر عهده ضعیف خود انسان تحمیل کند...
و پس از همه اینها، با آن وسعت نظر و سعه صدر علوی و الهی خود از انسان، از این بنده حقیر سراپا تقصیر میخواهد که او را پرستش کند...!
خدایی دارد که به همان آسانی که می تواند بندگان بد بیافریند به خلق بندگان خوب نیز تواناست، و با وجود این آفرینش بندگان بد را ترجیح می دهد! می تواند همه آنها را خوشبخت کند و با وجود این حتی یک نفر را برای نمونه خوشبخت نمی سازد!
ان ها را وا می دارد که به این دنیای دون و زندگی مرارت بار دل ببندند و آنگاه به هر یک چند روزی بیش فرصت نمی دهد.
به فرشتگان خود گنج سعادت ابدی را بی هیچ رنجی ارزانی داشته، و با وجوداین فرزندان دیگر(بشر) خود را واداشته است که در راه تحصیل این گنج موهوم رنج موفور بر خود هموار کنند. به فرشتگان خود زندگی بی درد و الم ارزانی داشته و انگاه به فرزندان دیگر خود حیاتی آکنده از فلاکت و ادبار و بیماری روحی و جسمی تحمیل کرده است.
از عدالت دم می زند، دوزخ نیز دارد...!
از باران رحمت دم می زند، دوزخ نیز دارد...
از قوانین طلایی و بخشایش الهی دم می زند، دوزخ نیز دارد...
انسان را بدون رضایت انسانی خلق کرده است و آنگاه مسئولیت اعمال او را بجای اینکه شرافتمندانه به گردن مسئول واقعی آن ها بگذارد، می خواهد بر عهده ضعیف خود انسان تحمیل کند...
و پس از همه اینها، با آن وسعت نظر و سعه صدر علوی و الهی خود از انسان، از این بنده حقیر سراپا تقصیر میخواهد که او را پرستش کند...!
February 20, 2019
I read this more than 35 years ago in High School. I read it along with other short stories by Mark Twain for a senior term paper analyzing his writings and influences. Mr. Twain who was known more for his wry, comedic pokes at the culture of his time steps away from humor to evaluate the circumstances of death.
This story was written later in Twain's life after his wife had died. It is a bit bitter. However, I found his story captivating even in my teens. It is apparent that the anger he had toward the circumstances around his wife's dying had an impact on this story. I found the story quite compelling though it was quite a departure from Tom Sawyer and other stories in that era and its focus on preteen behavior and perspective. Twain's philosophical views play heavily in the telling of "The Mysterious Stranger" as well.
I am considering a reread to see how this book seems to me at this stage of life of middle, middle age. I resoundingly recommend the reading of this story but don't expect to be entertained or you will be disappointed. The book will cause you to pause and consider aspects of later life and how you view things.
This story was written later in Twain's life after his wife had died. It is a bit bitter. However, I found his story captivating even in my teens. It is apparent that the anger he had toward the circumstances around his wife's dying had an impact on this story. I found the story quite compelling though it was quite a departure from Tom Sawyer and other stories in that era and its focus on preteen behavior and perspective. Twain's philosophical views play heavily in the telling of "The Mysterious Stranger" as well.
I am considering a reread to see how this book seems to me at this stage of life of middle, middle age. I resoundingly recommend the reading of this story but don't expect to be entertained or you will be disappointed. The book will cause you to pause and consider aspects of later life and how you view things.
June 23, 2019
شیطان گفت: «هر یک از افراد بشر از یک ماشین رنج و یک ماشین خوشی توام با یکدیگر ساخته شده است. این دو ماشین هماهنگ با یکدیگر کار می کنند و به طرز دقیق و ظریفی بر اساس اصل داد و ستد میزان شده اند. در برابر هر خوشی که از یک شعبه این ماشین خارج شود، شعبه دیگر حاضر و آماده است که آن را به وسیله یک رنج یا اندوه جبران کند و تعادل را برقرار سازد؛ چه بسا که گاه این خوشی را به وسیله ده رنج و اندوه جبران می کند. در غالب موارد، زندگی بشر به طور تقریبا مساوی بین خوشی و ناخوشی تقسیم شده است. وقتی که تعادل به هم بخورد، همیشه ناخوشی غلبه می یابد. اما عکس قضیه هرگز صادق نیست. گاهی طبیعت و ساختمان فرد طوری است که ماشین بدبختی اش قادر است تقریبا تمام کار را به تنهایی انجام دهد. چنین شخصی زندگی را تقریبا بی خبر از مفهوم خوشبختی می گذراند. دست به هر کاری بزند بدبختی روی بدبختی برایش می آورد. تو این قبیل آدم ها را هیچ دیده ای؟ برای این قبیل آدمها زندگی نه تنها آش دهن سوزی نیست، بلکه در حکم مصیبتی است. گاهی برای یک ساعت خوشی ماشین یک فرد او را وادار می کند که سال ها بدبختی به دنبال آن تحمل کند. قبول نداری؟»
May 29, 2016
"I know your race. It is made up of sheep. It is governed by minorities, seldom or never by majorities. It suppresses its feelings and its beliefs and follows the handful that makes the most noise.”
― Mark Twain, The Mysterious Stranger
Satan, the young nephew of the fallen Satan pays a visit to a few of the human race. A humorous if not indicting novella addressing the immorality of man and the futility of his existence. For a short piece, there are some powerful thoughts penned by Mr. Twain who at his end shows in this story why he was a master unsurpassed in his craft.
There are a few short stories at the end of this collection but I base my 4 stars on the main piece. As a whole I would give it a 3.5
July 21, 2023
It was great seeing how Twain toys with this idea in its four different versions, all unfinished - but a great attempt at writing wholehearted religious satire, it's a shame nothing came of it and it's mostly an obscure forgotten project now.
"The Devil said he had built bridges for priests all over Europe, and had always got cheated out of his wages; and this was the last time he would trust a Christian if he got cheated now. Always before, when he built bridges, he was to have for his pay the first passenger that crossed it- everybody knowing he meant a Christian, of course. But no matter, he didn't say it, so they always sent a jackass or a chicken or some other undamnable passenger across first, and so got the best of him."
"The Devil said he had built bridges for priests all over Europe, and had always got cheated out of his wages; and this was the last time he would trust a Christian if he got cheated now. Always before, when he built bridges, he was to have for his pay the first passenger that crossed it- everybody knowing he meant a Christian, of course. But no matter, he didn't say it, so they always sent a jackass or a chicken or some other undamnable passenger across first, and so got the best of him."
November 14, 2011
It may seem nonsensical that I would rate my favorite book with only four out of five stars. The reason for this is because, the 1916 edition of Mark Twain's Mysterious Stranger is not entirely original to Twain. Twain died in 1910 with several versions of a manuscript for the Mysterious Stranger incomplete. The versions vary considerably in setting and in story line, although they arguably seek to make the same point.
The popular version of this story was completed by his editor and, therefore, loses its status as pure Twain. Having said that, this story is outstanding in its criticism of didactic Christian culture and the influence of religion on society.
Satan's final soliloquy in the published version is a rant that not only challenges American puritanical Christian thinking, but opens the door to a distinctly existential point of view that ultimately became a prevailing point of view in the modern era. It is almost as if Twain gives birth to the realization that man is responsible for the creation of god, and the good or evil that gets done in his name, by lambasting the traditional superstitious point of view with a tongue-lashing from Satan designed to smack the human race into awareness.
This book is brilliant, but sadly not entirely Twain's.
The popular version of this story was completed by his editor and, therefore, loses its status as pure Twain. Having said that, this story is outstanding in its criticism of didactic Christian culture and the influence of religion on society.
Satan's final soliloquy in the published version is a rant that not only challenges American puritanical Christian thinking, but opens the door to a distinctly existential point of view that ultimately became a prevailing point of view in the modern era. It is almost as if Twain gives birth to the realization that man is responsible for the creation of god, and the good or evil that gets done in his name, by lambasting the traditional superstitious point of view with a tongue-lashing from Satan designed to smack the human race into awareness.
This book is brilliant, but sadly not entirely Twain's.
September 28, 2022
Un libro interesante y satírico sobre la humanidad. De verdad es más de lo que esperaba. Se puede extraer muchísimo de él y creo que hacer alguna relectura se vuelve imprescindible.
May 13, 2017
Kυνικός, σατιρικός, αλληγορικός, σκληρός επικριτής του ανθρώπινου γενους, βαθύτατα άθεος ο Mark Twain κατεβάζει στον δυσμοιρο τοπο μας αλλα περισσοτερο στα αθεραπευτα μυαλα μας τον αγγελικο ανιψιό του Εκπτωτου Σατανά για να αποδώσει μια εκ των υστερων επί Γης δικαιοσύνη, να εξιστορήσει εκ νέου τις 'υπέροχες' κατακτήσεις του ανθρώπινου πολιτισμού κ να μας παραδώσει μαθήματα αυτογνωσίας και κρισης σε ενα αφηγημα το οποιο οπως και στο δοκιμιακο 'Τhis is a man' επεξεργαζοταν για αρκετα χρονια εως οτου το ολοκληρωσει.
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