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Letters From the Earth Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Letters From the Earth


Think of this as Twain outtakes. These essays and partial pieces were edited by Bernard DeVoto 30 years after Twain died, but the widow demurred, so they were not published until 1962, after the editor's death as well. In the title set, Satan visits Earth and writes back to his buddy angels about what a crazy place it is, and how odd a creature is man. This was probably pretty daring in Twain's time, but now seems a bit obvious and would appeal mainly to a growingly skeptical teen. There are mildly amusing excerpts from Methuselah's diary, and Eve's diary, scraps from a trip to England, the infamous philosophical rant "The Damned Human Race," and the promising fragment of a sci fi novel about a sailing ship crossing a drop of water on a microscope. The book's gem is an unfinished parody of books on etiquette (proper behavior at a funeral, how to address an unknown lady at a fire, etc.) that's a scream. Too bad he never finished it.
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The review of this Book prepared by David Loftus



Chapter Analysis of Letters From the Earth

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Plot & Themes

Political/social activism    -   Yes Plotlet:    -   general liberal/left wing activism Animal story    -   Yes Kind of animal:    -   cat Is this an adult or child's book?    -   Adult or Young Adult Book

Setting

How much descriptions of surroundings?    -   2 () United States    -   Yes Europe    -   Yes European country:    -   England/UK Water?    -   Yes Water:    -   lost at sea

Writing Style

Sex in book?    -   Yes What kind of sex:    -   vague references only Amount of dialog    -   little dialog

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Mark Twain Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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