Short Stories by Mark Twain

This week, I read two stories by Mark Twain: Extracts from Adam’s Diary (1904) and Eve’s Diary (1905).

Extracts from Adam’s Diary is a wonderfully hilarious story – told, of course, by Adam, right from when he first meets Eve in the Garden of Eden and is incredibly annoyed by her, till he eventually falls in love with her. It is in the form of “entries” he writes in his diary (which Twain claims to have translated from the original manuscripts by deciphering Adam’s hieroglyphics!)

The same is the case for Eve’s Diary – right from her first day on earth when she sees “the man” for the first time, till forty years later, after the fall. The story ends with Adam’s speaking at Eve’s grave, “Wherever she was, there was Eden.”

Mark Twain is indescribably amazing. Reading Adam’s Diary is a colourful experience; something you would have never thought of – the day-by-day experiences of the first man! It is amusing in most parts and absolutely hilarious in some – especially when Adam tries to figure out what species the little baby, that Eve claims to have found, belongs to (his guesses range from a fish to a talking parrot!) I also love how annoying he finds Eve – especially when she starts crying!

Eve’s Diary, on the other hand, was something completely else. It is humourous right from the start; but along with that it’s also a wonderful story. She is fascinated by everything she sees and everyone she meets and simply loves to talk! Twain has written beautifully from the point of view of a woman. And call me crazy, but it’s actually easy to relate to her. This is, without a doubt, one of the most amazing stories I have read in a while.

Last week, when I posted about the short stories that I read by Kafka, I came across Short Stories on Wednesday, a meme hosted at Risa’s Bread Crumb Reads. I’m going to take part in the meme and so, read at least one short story every week!