The Mysterious Stranger

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 courseI believe it [...]

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 wor [...]

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 interes [...]

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 bi [...]

This review will contain spoilers.-- 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 [...]

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. [...]

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 [...]

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 unobse [...]

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 μικρ� [...]

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 [...]

"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 [...]

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 εξι [...]

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, [...]

Imi placu si asta, ca (aproape) tot ce-am citit 'existentialist' pana acum. Imi place franchetea, disperarea si pana ascutita din cartile astea, desi le contrazic majoritatea ideilor apoi. (Asa ca sa nu ma intrebati de ce le mai citesc)Dupa ce-am citit celelalte povestiri ale lui Twain, nu ma asteptam sa-l gasesc asa intunecat si pesimist in asta (majoritatea celorlalte sint amuzante, scurte, ironice ca viata si au un clenci:) ). Oricum, sa vedem:-nepotul lui Satan, (numit tot)Satan, un inger ne [...]

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. Pe [...]

Re-reading online from Project Gutenberg the titular story as it is mentioned extensively in Explaining Hitler: The Search for the Origins of His EvilIt was in 1590--winter. Austria was far away from the world, and asleep; it was still the Middle Ages in Austria, and promised to remain so forever.

cronicasenferrocarrilUn libro que me ha hecho reflexionar como hacía tiempo que no me pasaba… Por otra parte las ilustraciones de ATAK son IMPRESIONANTES. No es un acompañamiento, es el 50 % de la historia ♥

با مضمون کتاب احساس نزدیکی نکردم. وگرنه که خیلی خوب خواننده رو ارادتمند شیطان و تحلیل هاش میکنه.

First and foremost, I read some academic journal publishing's over this short story before I read it. Now, having finished it, I am very glad that I did. It was interesting to read that so many Christians despise Twain's composition, and that so many Atheists use it as proof of there being no God. I take an undecided approach to religion when I read and I have to say, I see no foundation for Atheism in this work. In fact, it is the complete opposite. Instead, you have the inner frame working of [...]

The Mysterious Stranger, Mark Twain عنوان: بیگانه ای در دهکده؛ نویسنده: مارک تواین؛ مترجم: نجف دریابندری؛ یکی از صد کتابی که باید قبل از مرگ خواند؛ آخرین نشر: تهران؛ امیر‌کبیر، کتابهای جیبی، ۱۳۸۴بخش هایی از کتاب: زمستان سال 1590 بوداطریش فرسنگها دور از جهان و جهانیان در خواب غفلت فرو رفته بود، � [...]

Every Christmas, American television shows It's A Wonderful Life at least once. For many people, the movie is the Christmas must watch. (Note, not for me. That's Rudolph or Nestor the Long Eared Donkey or the Muppet Christmas Carol or Sim's Christmas Carol). In some ways, Life is the American Christmas Carol. It heavily colors views about angels too.So, if you like It's A Wonderful Life, you shouldn't read this work.This Kindle edition includes the title short novel as well as three short storie [...]

I recently read about a few of Twain's lesser known works and this was one he wrote late in life and he is not just cynical but probably bitter when he wrote this. I thought his humor was at it's peak and Twain has always been hard on man and religion but he really gives you a double barreled literary blast with this short novel.If you are religious and easily offended, stay away but I found Satan and his young wowed friends an absolute delight. Satan has never been described better. It's not su [...]

Novela póstuma e inconclusa de Twain publicada en 1916. Al parecer se terminaron mezclando algunas de sus versiones en un intento de mantener su mensaje original.Se trata, en palabras del autor, sobre sus ideas acerca del sentido moral y la "maldita raza humana" con un corte filosófico y religioso.

For those of you who view Mark Twain as a humorist, "The Mysterious Stranger" can come as quite the surprise. Written later in life, this book demonstrates Twain's lack of faith in the human race by presenting a character named Satan. He claims not to be the one Satan we all think of; instead, he says that he is "the" Satan's nephew. But that doesn't stop him from winning the friendship of three boys, including protagonist Theodor. Satan showers them with gifts and shows them miracles, then proc [...]

As Mark Twain got older, his always-present BS detector grew keener and keener. By the time he began work on The Mysterious Stranger, his view of the human race -- especially clergy -- was quite bitter. The title character turns out to be Satan, who travels in time to a small village in Austria during the 1590s, and charms a trio of three young boys. Superstition and ignorance run rampant in this village. Things are so backward and hopeless that Satan's presence actually makes things better. At [...]

A strange and "mysterious" unfinished manuscript Twain could never bring himself to polish off. I think it reflects his deep ambivalence about the book's serious themes: good v. evil, and the abiding question of an all-merciful, all-loving, almighty God per Christianity's received tenets. He, like Thomas Jefferson, and other plain-spoken, intellectually honest, rational American "souls," couldn't swallow whole the inherent contradictions. Why create humankind as an act of love and doom it to fai [...]

Napsané před více než sto lety a přitom tak současné. Mark Twain skrze ústa Satanova synovce peprně a nevybíravě glosuje člověka a celé lidské bytí. A že to není zrovna povzbudivé čtení, lidský rod v tomto spisku není nic, nad čím bychom se pýchou dmuli. Přitom je to hodně až bolestně pravdivé. Na to jak útlá knížka Tajemný cizinec je, má velice bohatou historii. Twain příběh několikrát rozepsal, z jeho pera existuje několik verzí, jejichž finální p [...]

This is one of the unfinished work of Mark Twain which was written in his later years. The story is written in his characteristic style which made me want to continue reading it. He tries to express his philosophic and social musings through one of the main characters "Satan" (can be thought of as an alien) in quite an interestingly and creatively woven story. Even though I was raised as a Catholic and I do believe in God, I was not offended as he is trying to raise certain social issues as well [...]

Overall, this was a pretty masterful story. The personification of Satan and his very strong indifference was interesting to read and think about. Granted, I didn't necessarily agree with a lot of the philosophy in/behind the book, but I really appreciate the cerebral nature of it all. It's sad but not quite heartbreaking, and it's thought-proviking but not quite revolutionary. But overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this!

شیطان گفت: هیچ حیوانی هرگز مرتکب عمل بی‌رحمانه‌ نمی‌شود، این عمل منحصر به کسانی است که" قوه تمیز اخلاقی" دارند. حیوان وقتی هم آزاری می‌رساند، در کمال معصومیت این‌کار را می‌کند. عمل او تباه نیست، برای آن آزار نمی‌رساند که صرف آزار رساندن لذت ببرد اینکار فقط از انسان سر می‌ز� [...]