The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories
The Mysterious Stranger, published in 1916 six years after Mark Twain's death, is the version of his unfinished late fable prepared by his biographer Albert Bigelow Paine from several manuscripts. In the Austrian village of Eseldorf in 1590, three boys are befriended by a beautiful youth who calls himself Satan, nephew of the fallen angel, and who makes clay people live and die for their amusement, reads the future, and explains that the human race's one great weapon is laughter. The tale carries Twain's darkest thoughts about free will, conscience and the Moral Sense. Three shorter pieces follow: A Fable, Hunting the Deceitful Turkey and The McWilliamses and the Burglar Alarm. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories
The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories by Mark Twain can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories online?
Yes. The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories in the public domain?
Yes. The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories by Mark Twain is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories?
About 2 h 46 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories?
The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories by Mark Twain is filed under "Short Stories" in the Vinteuil library.
