The Diaries of Adam and Eve (Oxford Mark Twain)

by Mark Twain

Other authorsUrsula K. Le Guin (Introduction)

Hardcover, 1997

Status

Available

Call number

813.4

Genres

General Fiction

All Topics

Fiction

Collection

General Fiction

Publication

Oxford University Press Inc, USA (1997), Hardcover, 304 pages

Description

Written in diary form, The Diary of Adam and Eve is an ingenious, witty, and ultimately delightful retelling of the dawn of human creation with many a grain of truth for today's gender disputes. Master storyteller Mark Twain hilariously recreates the very first days, portraying Adam as something of a recluse, and a man who is ill prepared for the arrival of Eve, a talkative, emotional, and highly charged female. Yet in time, and after many moments of conflict, they begin to learn to live together and come to realize that men and women can, in fact, exist in harmony.

User reviews

LibraryThing member mpultz

The obscure Diaries of Adam and Eve by Mark Twain is quirky, funny, light reading - I read it in about half an hour. It is of particular interest to fans of Mark Twain, as it is just as much a product of a particular period in his life as of his unorthodox views. It is one of several works, written

late in Twain's life, that satirize religion, in this case the Book of Genesis. In a humorous fashion, the book deals with gender relations, human ignorance and limitations, the differences between the lazy and the productive, the creative and the unimaginative, the people with a zest for life and the people who are concerned mainly with eating and sleeping. All of this is condensed into a story of two familiar characters that makes for a brief but entertaining read.

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LibraryThing member Niecierpek

A funny little book. Adam is just one of the benign beasts in Paradise:) Eve is definitely the more active and mature one. Her language is so much more elegant. But she is also the inquisitive one, hungry for possessions and power. We sort of know where Lady Macbeth came from...They are both very

likeable though.

I read it for the first time years ago, and it lost a little with the second
reading, but not that much.

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LibraryThing member marsap

This sweet novella brings the reader Mark Twain's “translation” of the diary entries by Adam and Eve. At first, Adam is puzzled by the new arrival in the garden and doesn’t really want much to do with Eve. Eve (a much more complex creature than Adam), believes herself to be some sort of

experiment, is curious about the other experiment in the garden (Adam). Eve gives names to everything, much to Adam's annoyance. He tries to ignore her, so she seeks companionship among the animals particularly with a certain snake. Adam and Eve grow to love each other and, in the end, an elderly Adam is filled with a realization of that love as he stands at Eve's grave. The novella is organized as half Adam’s diary and half Eve’s. The tones are sharply distinct, and there’s no mistaking whose is whose. Adam’s is a straightforward, puzzled, and sometimes cranky accounting of the day’s accomplishments and discoveries. Eve’s is optimistic, wonderstruck, and emotional. I loved this small little novel—it is playful, ingenious (I found some of the concepts ahead of its time—women as the driver of life, the more complex and thought of the two inhabitants of the garden), funny and very moving at times (particularly the ending). As always, Twain never fails me. 5 out of 5 stars.

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LibraryThing member brianinbuffalo

Humorous, insightful and inventive. Twain's twist on creation is an amazingly quick read, yet it leaves folks with many interesting points to ponder.

LibraryThing member hermit_9

Although the humor is a tad dated, the book is still funny. Twain’s humor may not be 21st century, but it is OK.

LibraryThing member Sean191

I'm just a fan of Mark Twain. As a "real" person (real is in quotes because I feel like it was a bit of a public persona...) Anyway, this book, which is a fairly short story, is good for a few laugh out loud spots and general amusement throughout. At first, it makes Adam seem a bit dumb and

later,Eve seems brilliant. In the end, both come off looking pretty dumb. Which in Twain's mind, probably sums up humanity. Here's the part where I keep my opinion on the matter to myself...

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LibraryThing member BrendanCarroll

A new twist on Genesis from a different point of view. Very humorous if not taken too seriously. Warning: Very Sexist

LibraryThing member TiffanyHickox

This book is an enjoyable, light read. It perhaps has one of the best ending sentences I have ever read, and is a book I would read again and highly recommend.

LibraryThing member mullinator52

If you like Mark Twain's cynical look on life, you will like his take on the Adam and Eve story. Be aware that the diaries are biased towards Adam.. of course you have to remember when it was written.

LibraryThing member cait815

I doubt that I would have ever come across this story if it hadn't been for Lori's review in December. Thank you Lori! I keep trying to write how much I loved this, but all that comes out is "gush, gush, gush". It was charming, witty, funny as hell, and the ending nearly had me shedding water out

of the holes I look with. I deserve a good flogging for never having read Twain before now.

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LibraryThing member HadriantheBlind

Biting humor. Twain at his most cynical.

LibraryThing member MarkBeronte

The most complete edition of Twain's two stories, it uses Mark Twain's preferred text and includes passages not previously included--and not available in any other version. The editor's afterword tells how Twain came to write the "Diaries," which are recognized today as his most personal works of

fiction.

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LibraryThing member MartinBodek

I began drafting some scratch notes on a book idea, when I suddenly remembered that Twain had written something very similar. I read the book as reference. Indeed, I may have something that might be a proper follow-up. More on that soon, hopefully. Meantime, the book itself is unparalleled wit, and

supremely clever. To truly appreciate the writing, one must know when exactly the two parts were written, and know the circumstances in Twain's life at the time. This knowledge enhances the appreciation for the literary mastery. I hope, and I think, I can write something comparable. I'll be working on it.

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LibraryThing member bicyclewriter

It has been a while since I read anything by Twain, and I’d forgotten just how delightful it is to read his stuff.

Folks who are pretty hung-up on political correctness will find it disturbing that Twain crafts his Adam and Eve characters around pretty common stereotypes of males and females. I

wasn’t bothered by this at all, and found it quite interesting that the stereotypes from 150 years ago seem so consistent with our stereotypes from today.

This is a very quick read, but after finishing it, I found myself looking back through it and reading parts of it again. It’s full of little diary snippets where each of the pair describes both the Eden they live in, and this other creature that they have been paired and connected with.

I’ll be reading some additional Twain for sure, now that my taste for his wonderful wit and wisdom has been whetted again...

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LibraryThing member Hellen0

Short and entertaining book that can be read very quickly. The first half is much funnier than the second one, but the book as a whole is ok.

LibraryThing member trishpaw

Charming piecewritten from Adam and Eve's view of their life in the Garden. There is a touching vignette about how Adam feels when Eve dies that is especially sweet.

LibraryThing member rolyat

I think this is the original version of men are from mars, women are from venus. but with humor.

Fewer

Awards

Audie Award (Finalist — 2000)

Language

English

Original publication date

1904

1906

1923

1938

Physical description

304 p.; 9 inches

ISBN

0195101529 / 9780195101522

Local notes

Contains 'Extracts from Adam's Diary' & 'Eve's Diary'.

Whimsical diaries that are both an argument for women's equality and an irreverent look at conventional religion.

Signed by Ursula K LeGuin & Laura E Skandera-Trombly.