Thanks again, Kevin. I think my friend is teaching a grad course, but you are right, it would be interesting to think through Twain's relationship with Livy -- and with the girls, too-- in terms of the Adam and Eve diaries. It's surprising, actually, that not much work has been done on them. Best, -- s
Sent from my iPad
On May 20, 2012, at 9:02 AM, "Kevin Mac Donnell" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> At the risk of reading more than intended into this work, I think I see
> Twain working through some aspects of his grief in Eve's Diary --Eve's
> explicit wish to die first because Adam was stronger, his wonderment that
> she found him worthy of her love, etc.
>
> What's more interesting (to me) is that Twain's other "Adamic" writings (the
> specific titles escape me) were written before Livy's death (in Germany or
> London ca 1898-1900?) and are not so light-hearted or gently amusing. They
> take some satirical bites at Christianity that are absent (so far as I
> recall) from Eve's Diary.
>
> Even the oft-quoted last line of Eve's Diary may take on a somewhat
> different meaning if you closely examine exactly how Eden is depicted in all
> of these works.
>
> If you really want to take a fast slide (hands over your head) down the
> slippery slope of English 101 explication you can compare (or contrast)
> Twain's courtship of Livy, her "innocence" before they met, his influence on
> her religious views, etc., and the relationship of Adam and Eve in all these
> works.
>
> Kevin
> @
> Mac Donnell Rare Books
> 9307 Glenlake Drive
> Austin TX 78730
> 512-345-4139
> Member: ABAA, ILAB
> *************************
> You may browse our books at
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>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Harold Bush" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2012 8:08 AM
> Subject: Re: Extracts from Adam and Eve's Diaries
>
>
>> Sue, I agree it's a fond tribute; and it also seems marked by latency, or
>> belatedness, to Twain's loss of Livy. i.e., it seems like with profound
>> grief it often takes a very long time to "bottom out" into a darker a
>> depressed reality. With loss of a spouse it may be a year or 2 or more to
>> process fully or "realize" the death, during which time humor and good
>> feelings may well prevail. A very quick response, to be sure, but this
>> model makes sense to me, re: Eve's Diary, which is filled with light and
>> love, I think.
>>
>> Hal B.
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sat, May 19, 2012 at 10:31 PM, Kevin Mac Donnell <
>> [log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>>> Adam's Diary was first published in 1893. Eve's diary, first published a
>>> year and a half after Livy's death, is in some ways a tribute to Livy.
>>>
>>> Kevin
>>> @
>>> Mac Donnell Rare Books
>>> 9307 Glenlake Drive
>>> Austin TX 78730
>>> 512-345-4139
>>> Member: ABAA, ILAB
>>> *************************
>>> You may browse our books at
>>> www.macdonnellrarebooks.com
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Harris, Susan Kumin" <[log in to unmask]>
>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2012 9:16 PM
>>> Subject: Fwd: Extracts from Adam and Eve's Diaries
>>>
>>>
>>>> From: "Harris, Susan Kumin" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
>>>> Date: May 19, 2012 6:17:59 PM CDT
>>>> To: "[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>"
>>>> <[log in to unmask]<mailto:TWAIN=
>>>> [log in to unmask]>>
>>>> Subject: Extracts from Adam and Eve's Diaries
>>>>
>>>> Hi, all. A friend has just contacted me with a question I can't
>>>> answer.
>>>> H=
>>>> e's teaching the Diaries in a Bible & Lit class, and is surprised that
>>>> they=
>>>> are so lighthearted and funny, given that Livy died that year. He asks
>>>> wha=
>>>> t the story is. I'm on the road and can't do any research. What IS the
>>>> sto=
>>>> ry, does anyone know?
>>>>
>>>> Thank you! - Susan Harris
>>>>
>>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>> 05/19/12
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Harold K. Bush, Ph.D
>> Professor of English
>> Saint Louis University
>> St. Louis, MO 63108
>> 314-977-3616 (w); 314-771-6795 (h)
>> <www.slu.edu/x23809.xml>
>>
>>
>>
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>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
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>
>
>
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