The War Prayer by Mark Twain

[serai]

Having been most enlightened and impressed by the work that my friends elanorgardner and catkcrl have been doing, posting links and essays about the election and the ongoing war, I felt I'd like to join in and contribute. But since they're doing such a good job already, I thought I'd post something of a different sort, but fully as relevant, I believe. So I present to all of you an extraordinary piece of work from one of the great American writers. No further commentary is needed, I think...

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Comments

[angharad001.livejournal.com]

Mark Twain: a wonderful, wise and most perceptive man.

Thank you for this post . . . my lj is being a little difficult with the whole thing, but I had to let you know that it was a most timely and shattering thought to share these words and images.

Thanks again . . .

[serai1.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome. This little book is the first edition of this piece that I ever read, and the text us indelibly welded to the images in my mind. Twain was an extraordinary thinker, despite his faults, and I often wish he was around today, because I'd love to know what he'd say about these times.

[angharad001.livejournal.com]

He'd certainly be eloquent about our times I think and you're right about the images, I'll always think of them when I read it now.

[rubynye.livejournal.com]

I hadn't seen this illustrated version before.

Thank you, serai1.

You're welcome!

[serai1.livejournal.com]

This edition came out in 1970, and was the first version of this text that I ever came across. I've had my copy for many years, and have always loved it.

[baylorsr.livejournal.com]

Thank you for posting this. I haven't ever read it before, and the illustrations were chilling.

[serai1.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome! I'm glad to give people the chance to read this amazing piece, and experience these images. :)

[elanorgardner.livejournal.com]

Love Mark Twain. Love him. Love him!! Thanks for posting this. I too had never seen the illustrated version before.

"Statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting blame upon the nation that is attacked, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing falsities, and will diligently study them, and refuse to examine any refutations of them; and thus he will by and by convince himself that the war is just, and will thank God for the better sleep he enjoys after this process of grotesque self-deception."

Sounds familiar huh? Current columnist? Present day politico? Nope -- Mark Twain.

Gotta love him.

EG

[serai1.livejournal.com]

Yes, indeed. He was a great man. I was particularly inspired to post this because last night I sat down to watch "Mark Twain Tonight", the one-man show performed by Hal Hobrook. The 1969 telecast has finally been released on DVD, and it's a real jewel. You should definitely rent it. Hal's performance is amazing, and there are some fantastic pieces of text in it.