The Bible According to Mark Twain

by Mccullough, Joseph B.; Baetzhold, Howard G.

• ISBN13: 9780684824390
• ISBN10: 0684824396
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1996-12-06
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Summary

In this brilliant and hilarious compilation of essays, letters, diaries, and excerpts - some never before published - Mark Twain takes on Heaven and Hell, sinners and saints and showcases his own unique approach to the Holy Scriptures including Adam and Eve's divergent accounts of their domestic troubles, Satan's take on our concept of the afterlife, Methuselah's discussion of an ancient version of baseball, and advice on how to dress and tip properly in heaven.
Behind the humor of these pieces, readers will see Twain's serious thoughts on the relationship between God and man, biblical inconsistencies, Darwinism, science, and the impact of technology on religious beliefs. The Bible According to Mark Twain is vintage Twain and is sure to surprise, delight, and perhaps shock modern readers.

Author Biography

Joseph B. McCullough is a Professor of English at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In addition to a number of articles on Mark Twain, American humor, and Hamlin Garland, he is a “featured expert” on an A&E biography of Twain.

Table of Contents

Preface
Abbreviations
Introduction
A Note on the Texts
Extracts from Adam's Diary	p. 3
Eve's Diary	p. 17
Autobiography of Eve and Diaries Antedating the Flood	p. 35
Documents Related to "Diaries Antedating the Flood"	p. 85
Two Additional Pre-Deluge Diarists	p. 91
Passages from Methuselah's Diary	p. 97
Passages from Shem's Diary	p. 107
Adam's Expulsion	p. 111
Adam's Soliloquy	p. 117
Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven	p. 129
Captain Simon Wheeler's Dream Visit to Heaven	p. 189
A Singular Episode: The Reception of Rev. Sam Jones in Heaven	p. 195
Mental Telegraphy?	p. 203
Etiquette for the Afterlife: Advice to Paine	p. 207
Letters from the Earth	p. 213
Original Continuation of "Autobiography of Eve"	p. 263
Planning Notes for "Autobiography of Eve"	p. 275
"Extracts from Adam's Diary" from the Original Niagara Book Version	p. 278
Planning Notes for Methuselah's Diary	p. 287
Passages from "Stormfield" Preserved in the Manuscript but Deleted from Typescript or Proof	p. 299
Discussion of the Fall from "Schoolhouse Hill"	p. 306
God of the Bible vs. God of the Present Day (1870s)	p. 313
Selected Passages on God and the Bible from Autobiographical Dictations of June 1906	p. 318
Notes	p. 333
Works Cited	p. 381
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.