These acerbic, poignant, and thought-provoking essays concern mankind, its relationship with God, and how the mind works. Twain himself considered them dark and cynical, delaying their publication for many years before finally releasing them as an anonymous, limited-edition collection. The title essay constitutes a deeply felt blow against religious hypocrisy, written in the form of a Socratic dialogue between a young idealist and an elderly, world-weary...

A sentimental short story praised for its moving plot and condemnation of scientific experimentation on animals, Mark Twain efficiently delivers a truly captivating piece. First appearing in Harper's Magazine in 1903, A Dog's Tale was later published as a pamphlet for the National Anti-Vivisection Society. The tale focuses on the life of Aileen, a misunderstood dog who experiences the ups and downs of life, while cruelly subjected to suffering because...

Renowned as a novelist, journalist, and humorist, Mark Twain is not only one of the most widely read and admired American writers, he is also among the most quoted. Wit and repartee permeate his work — from the short, light pieces to his great novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and even later, in dark meditations on the human condition where his humor takes on a cynical, satirical twist.
This remarkably inexpensive volume gathers

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Twain originally envisioned the characters of Luigi and Angelo Capello as conjoined twins, modeled after the late-19th century Italian conjoined twins Giovanni and Giacomo Tocci. He planned for them to be the central characters of a novel to be, titled Those Extraordinary Twins. During the writing process, however, Twain realized that secondary characters such as, Pudd'nhead Wilson, Roxy, and Tom Driscoll were taking a more central role in the story....

America's greatest satirist sets his sights on England's most celebrated detective in this boisterous tale of revenge, murder, and the limits of logic   Tortured, humiliated, and abandoned by her fiancé, a woman gives birth to a boy with an unusual gift. Blessed with a bloodhound's sense of smell, Archy Stillman can track a man clear across the country. His mother, who has spent sixteen years dreaming of vengeance, finally has the means to achieve...

These short stories and sketches were written in 1870-1871 for The Galaxy and The Buffalo Express and made up out of sixteen various tales. The Curious Republic of Gondor is probably the most memorable of the group. He relates that education and prosperity influence the individual citizen's political clout. As revolutionary as this may first sound, either the conception or the possible negative reaction from his reader, he neglected the mention of...

The Stolen White Elephant by Mark Twain libreka classics — These are classics of literary history, reissued and made available to a wide audience. Immerse yourself in well-known and popular titles!

Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, by the Sieur Louis de Conte is an 1896 novel by Mark Twain which recounts the life of Joan of Arc. It is Twain's last completed novel, published when he was 61 years old. The novel is presented as a translation by "Jean Francois Alden" of memoirs by Louis de Conte, a fictionalized version of Joan of Arc's page Louis de Contes. Twain was aware of his reputation as a comic writer and he asked that each installment...

libreka classics — These are classics of literary history, reissued and made available to a wide audience. Immerse yourself in well-known and popular titles!

The Innocents Abroad - Volume 04 by Mark Twain libreka classics — These are classics of literary history, reissued and made available to a wide audience. Immerse yourself in well-known and popular titles!