Letters from the Earth Audiobook By Mark Twain cover art

Letters from the Earth

Uncensored Writings by Mark Twain

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Letters from the Earth

By: Mark Twain
Narrated by: Carl Reiner
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Penniless and downtrodden at the loss of his wife and one of his daughters, Samuel Clemens turned to writing. The short stories and essays in Letters from the Earth find Clemens—under the pseudonym of Mark Twain—at perhaps his most quizzical and questioning state ever.

Written as diary entries, Twain penned a series of letters from the point of view of a dejected angel on Earth who observes the many curious natures of man. These pieces, gathered by Twain's literary executor, feature sharp takes on the inconsistencies and illogic of Christianity and farcical criticisms of American life.

Deemed too irreligious and controversial to see the light of day when Twain wrote them, their publication occurred more than fifty years after his death. A brilliant treasure trove of satirical and witty observations of humankind, Letters from the Earth showcases Twain's true range as an author.

©2020 Phoenix Books (P)2022 Phoenix Books Anthologies & Short Stories Literature & Fiction Satire Short Stories Fiction Comedy Witty
Religious Critique • Thought-provoking Content • Excellent Reader • Ahead-of-time Insights • Very Good Narration
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Wonderful reading that captures depths of Twain's curious mind. It was hard to believe it was written over a 110 years ago. Be cautioned that this is the philosophical Twain not the humorous one.

Carl Reiner captures Twain

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Extraordinary and mind blowing ! still controversial after over one hundred years. try to find it at alibrary.

The Unknown Mark Twain

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Sam Clements didn't want people to read what he actually thought regarding some of the dearest ideas most of mankind hold close. At least he didn't want them read any time
near to when he passed.

It is hard to believe that this many years have gone by since he wrote this kind of material
and still people think he had a "negative attitude".

If one writes the obvious, and the obvious questions belief, where is the harm?

We have been programmed to accept what we have been told, and few are those that dare, or should I dare say, feel compelled to speak the obvious.

Thank God we had Mark Twain to speak for us......

A must read for thinking people

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Hilarious and true, the finest analysis ofGod,the Bibles and the universe. Remarkable in its age, probably truer today than when written.

The best book about religion ever

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a series of unconnected stories. By themselves they are interesting, as a collection it didn't work for me I have to say. most of the stories were unfinished and an editor used his notes to complete.

A perspective I didn't expect

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This is more an almost random collection of unfinished stories first published in 1962 and collected by Bernard DeVoto. Atheists would love the parts where Twain was making fun of the Bible and Religion. But... those parts were written in a personally “dark” period. And are only about half the volume. The remainder are parts of stories that nothing to do with each other.

Very Strange Book.

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Brilliant and hilarious perspectives on humanity. I loved every bit, with the exception of the last story about the voyage in a drop of water. (That one kind of lost me.) But the rest of the content is an absolute must-read for everyone.

Truly great stuff.

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A bit hard to follow when listening due to the nature of the work
Otherwise, wonderful!

Want To Read It, Too

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Let me first stay that the narration was very good and I'll look for more of it by Carl Reiner. That being said, and knowing that this was written at some very low times in Twain's life, it felt to me like nothing more than a rant against God. It was beautifully written and spoken, but a rant nonetheless.

I see that some reviewers have said they will try it again later, but I won't be doing that. I either didn't "get it" or did get it but didn't like it. SO sad about this because I LOVE all other of his work I have read/listened to.

If you don't want your bubble burst you will pass this one up. It has certainly not soured me on Twain and I will read him again, but not this. I knew him to be a skeptic before this, but this just wan't to my taste.

I don't get it and I'm sorry!

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Thought provoking and Incredible wordsmith. Mark Twain, as usual, does not let you down. 5/5

Excellent

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