Extracts From Adam’s Diary by Mark Twain

Extracts From Adam’s Diary

Translated from the original ms.

by Mark Twain

Illustrated by F. Strothmann

Haper & Brothers Publishers, 1904, black and white illustrated frontispiece, black and white illustrated plates throughout (facing), embossed illustration on cover, hardcover

Good Condition, some edge and shelf wear, some rubbing and bumping to edges and corners, some wear and tear to covers in general, large rubbed mark on front cover, age toned pages, no inscriptions (see photographs)

“Adam (based on Twain himself) describes how Eve (modelled after his wife Livy) gets introduced into the Garden of Eden, and how he has to deal with "this new creature with the long hair." The piece gives a humorous account of Genesis. It begins with the introduction of Eve, described as an annoying creature with a penchant for naming things, which Adam could do without. It moves on to detail Eve eating the apple and finding Cain, a perplexing creature which Adam can not figure out. He devotes his ironically scientific mind to demystifying Cain's species, thinking it a fish, then a kangaroo, then a bear. Eventually he figures out it is a human, like himself.
The work is humorous and ironic, and gives a new spin on Genesis: few people have considered what life must have been like for Adam, who is discovering everything anew; the work does not consider God's role at all; and eventually, despite his initial deep annoyance with Eve, Adam finds himself in love with her.”