The Mysterious Stranger

Originally published: Berkeley, Calif; London: University of California Press, 1969.

The Mysterious Stranger is the final novel attempted by the American author Mark Twain. He worked on it periodically from 1897 through 1908. The body of work is a serious social commentary by Twain addressing his ideas of the Moral Sense and the damned human race This version includes new illustrations.

The Mysterious Stranger by Mark Twain The Mysterious Stranger is the final novel attempted by the American author Mark Twain. He worked on it periodically from 1897 through 1908. The body of work is a serious social commentary by Twain addressing his ideas of the Moral Sense and the "damned human race." Twain wrote multiple versions of the story; each is unfinished and involves the character of "Satan." "St. Petersburg Fragment" Twain wrote the "St. Petersburg Fragment" in September 1897. It was set in the fictional town of St. Petersburg, a name Twain often used for Hannibal, Missouri. The Chronicle of Young Satan The first substantial version is commonly referred to as The Chronicle of Young Satan and relates the adventures of Satan, the sinless nephew of the biblical Satan, in Eseldorf, an Austrian village in the Middle Ages (year 1702). The story ends abruptly in the middle of a scene involving Satan' entertaining a prince in India. Twain wrote this version between November 1897 and September 1900. "Eseldorf" is German for "assville" or "donkeytown." Schoolhouse Hill The second substantial version Twain attempted to write is known as Schoolhouse Hill. It is set in the US and involves the familiar characters Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer and their adventures with Satan, referred to in this version as "No. 44, New Series 864962." Schoolhouse Hill is the shortest of the three versions. Twain began writing it in November 1898 and, like the "St. Petersburg Fragment," set it in the fictional town of St. Petersburg.

David Blaine, downtown hipster and extraordinary illusionist, offers an exploration of the mysteries and history of the ancient art of magic. Mysterious Stranger brings Blaine's magic directly to his audience. In the book you'll find: mind-bending tricks you can learn to do yourself; interactive magic effects; mind-reading and psychic techniques; David Blaine's unique perspective on the art of magic; a copiously illustrated history of the art; and autobiographical background and an insight into David's private world.

Includes four memorable selections spanning the career of famed American humorist: "The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," "The £1,000,000 Bank Note," "The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg," and "The Mysterious Stranger."

Jarrett Wilkenson owns all the resort hotels dotted along the exquisite island shores of St. Alicia. One day, a beautiful blonde woman washes up on one of those shores. She claims to remember nothing of her past. He wants to send her away immediately?the manner of her discovery and her unkempt appearance have set off alarm bells in his mind. He searches hotel records to find her identity, but finds nothing. So Jarrett mercilessly throws cold words at her: “I know what you’re after. Your fake amnesia routine won’t work on me.”

Includes 4 memorable selections spanning the career of famed American humorist: "The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," "The 1,000,000 Bank Note," "The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg," and "The Mysterious Stranger."

Woody, Buzz and the gang encounter a mysterious egg-shaped toy, crash Andy's science fair, meet the new family dog and keep Sarge from revealing their secrets.