The Devil and Daniel Webster, and Other Tales of American History

by Stephen Vincent Benét

Book Overview

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Stephen Vincent Ben t was one of America's greatest storytellers, most famous for his witty and moving tribute to American history, The Devil and Daniel Webster, where a trial for a man's soul becomes a trial of America itself, of all that is best and worst in a great and tumultuous new country.

In addition, this collection includes six more of Ben t's best short stories, which in a similar vein, depict compelling...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 069231542X
• ISBN13: 9780692315422
• Release Date: October 2014
• Publisher: Hythloday Press
• Length: 146 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

a worthy legend for America and for Webster

A young nation, built on reason and skepticism, America doesn't have a whole lot of myths and legends. With the possible exception of Parson Weem's tales ofyoung George Washington, the stories of Washington Irving, and a few tall tales like Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, and John Henry, the best might be found in StephenVincent Benet's Faust-influenced but distinctly American short story and screenplay, The Devil and Daniel Webster, which has also been adapted for the stage andturned into an opera. Jabez Stone of Cross Corners, New Hampshire is a man of little luck, until, with his wife and children ill and a whitlow on his own thumb, he barks : I vow it's enough to make a man want to sell his soul to the devill And I would, too, for two cents! With that, a stranger appears and Jabez makes a deal, signing it in blood, which changes his luck drastically. Over the next ten years, Stone prospers, becoming wealthy and an important man in politics. But with his mortgage to the stranger coming due, Jabez Stone regretsthe deal he's made and pays a visit to his neighbor, Daniel Webster, of Mansfield, NH--the nation's greatest lawyer and New England's most revered citizen--to seeif Mr. Webster will take him on as a client and see if there's not some way out of the deal. A lesser man might balk at the prospect of such a fight, but DanielWebster has a special regard for his constituents and cheerfully assures Jabez that they'll prevail : For if two New Hampshiremen aren't a match for the devil, we might as well give the country back to the Indians. Webster's first ploy is to challenge the stranger's right to prey upon Americans : 'Mr. Stone is an American citizen, and no American citizen may be forced into the service of a foreign prince. We fought England for that in ë12 and weíll fight all hell for it again!' 'Foreign?' said the stranger. 'And who calls me a foreigner?' 'Well, I never yet heard of the dev -- of your claiming American citizenship,' said Dan'l Webster with surprise. 'And who with better right?' said the stranger, with one of his terrible smiles. 'When the first wrong was done to the first Indian, I was there. When the first slaver put out for the Congo, I stood on her deck. Am I not in your books and stories and beliefs, from the first settlements on? Am I not spoken of, still, in every church in New England? 'Tis true the North claims me for a Southerner, and the South for a Northerner, but I am neither. I am merely an honest American like yourself--and of the best descent--for, to tell the truth, Mr. Webster, though I don't like to boast of it, my name is older in this country than yours.' This prompts Webster to recourse to Stone's rights as an American : 'Aha!' said Dan'l Webster, with the veins standing out in his forehead. 'Then I stand on the Constitution! I demand a trial for my client!' 'The case is hardly one for an ordinary court,' said the stranger, his eyes flickering. 'And, inde

Great Piece of American Literature

Daniel Webster might be a Yankee New Englander, a politician and peddlar. This fictious short story by Stephen Benet utilizes a great American statesmen in a great legal case, albeit a fictious one. I first read this in the 8th grade for a book report. It stands out as an entertaining classic of American literature. I also recommend books by James Fennimore Cooper.

Lost Treasure Resurfaces

Following Stephen Vincent Benet's untimely death in 1943, his literary reputation plummeted. He, who had been one of America's most admired and popular writers, seemed to vanish from literary memory. Now, though, we have Townsend Ludington's brilliant and insightful anthology of Benet's works, reminding us of the range and power and beauty we have been missing. Benet is indeed a national treasure, and it will be to our shame if we ever let his contributions be lost again. Three or four of his works have entered the public consciousness--unfortunately, to the point at which people tend to think of them as mythic or folkloric, without a known author. Among these is the anthology's title story, "The Devil and Daniel Webster," some excerpts from the distinguished Civil War narrative poem "John Brown's Body," and the story "By The Waters of Babylon," which has been dubbed the original of the post-apocalyptic horror genre of science fiction. All the Benet you are likely to know is in this anthology, plus things you didn't know about before that are likely to delight you. You will meet Benet the yarn-spinner in new guises-- a story like "The Minister's Books" is a chilling read for a Halloween evening, scarier by far than the more famous "The Devil and Daniel Webster," at least to this reviewer's taste. "Jacob and the Indians" is not only a colorful tale based on history, but a lyrical vision of America as Benet saw it--not perfect, but a land with at least the potential to be a Promised Land for everyone. This book shows us Benet the humorist, Benet the lover, Benet the insightful social commentator, Benet the poet of issues both intimate and cosmic. He was a man with healthy values, and he is able to communicate those values sometimes with a chuckle and sometimes with the equivalent of a hammer blow. But always entertainingly. One of the functions of fine literature is to make the reader's hair stand on end--and if anybody can accomplish this, it is Benet. Buy and read this anthology. My guess is that you not only won't be sorry--you will want more Benet.

The complicate made humorous

The book is the perfect companion for a rainy night. Benet is startling in his lucid and gentle exposure of the myriad of character flaws the has plagued humanity since the beginning. He died during the second world war after dedicating his talents to exposing the true mission of the axis cause. His "Into Egypt" is the perfect vehicle to describe racial intolerance and historical short-sightedness, while the Devil and Daniel Webster sheds humorous light upon a bygone era of american folklore, this book is not to be missed in anyones lifetime. Anyone who has had a bad experience purchasing a product that needs assembly should reference his "Letter to Bloomingdale's:-" for he demonstrates how to get all your points across and still not compromise personal integrity.

The complicated made humorous

The book is the perfect companion for a rainy night. Benet is startling in his lucid and gentle exposure of the myriad of character flaws the has plagued humanity since the beginning. He died during the second world war after dedicating his talents to exposing the true mission of the axis cause. His "Into Egypt" is the perfect vehicle to describe racial intolerance and historical short-sightedness, while the Devil and Daniel Webster sheds humorous light upon a bygone era of american folklore. This book is not to be missed in anyones lifetime. For those who has had a bad experience purchasing a product that needs assembly, reference his "Letter to Bloomingdale's:-" for he demonstrates how to get all your points across, and your shot in the bull's eye and still not compromise personal integrity.