Extracts from Adam's Diary/The Diary of Eve

by Mark Twain

Book Overview

Written at the end of Twain's career, Extracts from Adam's Diary was first published in 1897 and Extracts from Eve's Diary in 1905. Twain's Adam was based on himself while Eve was modelled afterhis wife Livy. It is fitting that these two essays be joined together in one package.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1557094985
• ISBN13: 9781557094988
• Release Date: August 2000
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (SC)
• Length: 104 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.0" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Excellent, but why not buy a collection?

Extracts from Adam's Diary is one of Mark Twain's most enjoyable short works. A quick read, it first comes off as light and comic, and is certainly very funny, but also has many points of subtle significance. Twain manages to touch on male/female relations, sociology, anthropology, biology, human arrogance, theology, child rearing, and other important subjects in only a few pages - in the guise of comedy! Despite the seemingly limited form, the work portrays the growth of human love more movingly and believably than most far longer pieces and good-naturedly mocks humanity's strange combination of ego and ignorance. It also never ceases to entertain. This is a must for Twain fans and highly recommended for all. That said, Twain returned to the idea of Adam/Eve diaries several times, and they are often published together or even in collections with many other stories, making a standalone very hard to justify.

Very funny story

It is a really very funny story, at first I simply wonder how the church reacted with this story, then I admire the imagination of author, who could invent such a funny story.

Adam and Eve in Perspective

This is a little gem of a book. I loved it, it's about the relationship between Adam and Eve, how they see themselves and each other. Very funny and a quick read.

Note, the previous review is not accurate for this edition

Extract from Adam's Diary is one of two diaries that Twain made in different short stories. They are often paired together, but not in this edition. That being said, "Extracts.." is a funny, short, irreverant read. It's less of a commentary on God and the story of creation and more the story about the foibles of men and women.

Hilarious!

Even if you're not a Twain fan you'll probably like this book. It's hilarious-- laugh out loud funny-- and feels very modern. If you're expecting a quaint, outdated book you'll be immensely and pleasurably surprised. And this specific edition is great too, with one side of the book for Adam's diary and the other for Eve's. (In other words, there's no front or back-- it's two covers, one for each diary.)