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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About this listen

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
Satire Short Stories Fiction Comedy Witty
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What listeners say about Letters from the Earth

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Carl Reiner captures Twain

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.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The Unknown Mark Twain

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

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2 people found this helpful

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A must read for thinking people

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......

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16 people found this helpful

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The best book about religion ever

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

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    3 out of 5 stars
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A perspective I didn't expect

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.

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Very Strange Book.

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.

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A Beloved Banned Book

A must listen.
What else is there to say ?

Written when Samuel Clemens was so disillusioned with so called "civilized" human behavior and our belief in a "Loving" Creator who was obviously just as flawed as our unquestioning faith in Him.

Surely Blasphemous at the time of his death.

Unfortunately, just as poignant today. Showing that the more we advance as a species, the more the we stay the same.

Wonderfully read.

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Excellent

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

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Sarcastic, satirical and humorous. Great.

The first two chapters are a must read (listen). Extremely sarcastic, satirical and humorous. If you are a believer in the Bible - or have strong Abrahamic beliefs - this book will offend you even though you should probably read it. Underneath the wonderful words of Mark Twain is a challenge to approach religion with the same skepticism that we approach everyday life. The first two chapters alone are worth a hundred other chapters.

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Truly great stuff.

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.

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7 people found this helpful