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 > www.macdonnellrarebooks.com > > ----- 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 >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ----- >>>> No virus found in this message. >>>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >>>> Version: 2012.0.2176 / Virus Database: 2425/5009 - Release Date: >>>> 05/19/12 >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ----- >>> No virus found in this message. >>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >>> Version: 2012.0.2176 / Virus Database: 2425/5009 - Release Date: 05/19/12 >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> 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> >> >> >> >> ----- >> No virus found in this message. >> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >> Version: 2012.0.2176 / Virus Database: 2425/5011 - Release Date: 05/20/12 >> > > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2012.0.2176 / Virus Database: 2425/5011 - Release Date: 05/20/12 >