The War Prayer (Harper Colophon Books) - Softcover

Twain, Mark

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0060911131 ISBN 13: 9780060911133

Publisher: Harper Perennial, 1984

Synopsis

Written by Mark Twain during the Philippine-American War in the first decade of the twentieth century, The War Prayer tells of a patriotic church service held to send the town's young men off to war. During the service, a stranger enters and addresses the gathering. He tells the patriotic crowd that their prayers for victory are double-edged-by praying for victory they are also praying for the destruction of the enemy... for the destruction of human life.

Originally rejected for publication in 1905 as "not quite suited to a woman's magazine," this antiwar parable remained unpublished until 1923, when Twain's literary executor collected it in the volume Europe and Elsewhere. Handsomely illustrated by the artist and war correspondent Philip Groth, The War Prayer remains a relevant classic by an American icon.

About this title

About the Author:

Mark Twain, who was born Samuel L. Clemens in Missouri in 1835, wrote some of the most enduring works of literature in the English language, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc was his last completed book--and, by his own estimate, his best. Its acquisition by Harper & Brothers allowed Twain to stave off bankruptcy. He died in 1910.

Synopsis:

The universal themes of a war parable are made more eloquent by accompanying line drawings.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Publication date: 1984
• ISBN 10: 0060911131
• ISBN 13: 9780060911133
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 96