Mark Twain

Broschiertes Buch

Christian Science

Beschreibung

Christian Science is a 1907 book by the American writer Mark Twain (1835-1910). The book is a collection of essays Twain wrote about Christian Science, beginning with an article that was published in Cosmopolitan in 1899. Although Twain was interested in mental healing and the ideas behind Christian Science, he was hostile towards its founder, Mary Baker Eddy (1821-1910). Twain's first article about Christian Science was published in Cosmopolitan in 1899. A humorous work of fiction, it describes how he fell over a cliff while walking in Austria, breaking several bones. A Christian Science practitioner who lived nearby was sent for, but could not attend immediately and so undertook to provide an "absent healing." She sent a message asking Twain to wait overnight and to remember that there was nothing wrong with him: I thought there must be some mistake. "Did you tell her I walked off a cliff seventy-five feet high?" "Yes." "And struck a boulder at the bottom and bounced?" "Yes." "And struck another one and bounced again?" "Yes." "And struck another one and bounced yet again?" "Yes." "And broke the boulders?" "Yes." "That accounts for it; she is thinking of the boulders. Why didn't you tell her I got hurt, too?" In the third chapter of this story (as published in the book form described below), Twain estimates more than 120 fractures, some or many of which were visible to him, as well as 7 dislocated joints, including his hips, shoulders, knees and neck. All of these were healed within three hours of the "Christian Science doctor's" visit of the second day of the story. Immediately following this healing, he turns to the local country horse doctor to cure a headache and stomach ache. In 1907 he collected this and several other critical articles he had written and published them as a book, Christian Science. Twain himself believed that mind could influence matter to some degree. He nevertheless took strong exception to the writings of Eddy, calling them "incomprehensible and uninterpretable." He was particularly incensed by the thought that Eddy was using Christian Science to accrue wealth and power for herself. After publication of Twain's book, the editors of Cosmopolitan stated that although they had printed his original articles, his "serious and extended criticism may be said to represent the uninformed view of Christian Science", and that they were "anxious... to give both sides of the controversy" and so allowed Edward A. Kimball, a prominent Christian Scientist, an opportunity for a rebuttal, which was printed in 1907. Gillian Gill, a biographer of Mary Baker Eddy, has argued that Twain was "ambivalent" towards Christian Science, and that passages of the essay were in fact "pretty unambiguously pro-CS." In response Caroline Fraser writes that Gill has misread the text, and that Twain praised Christian Science "in the most backhanded and ironic way." Fraser writes that whatever Twain's view of Christian Science, his view of Eddy herself was overwhelmingly hostile. He called her "grasping, sordid, penurious, famishing for everything she sees-money, power, glory-vain, untruthful, jealous, despotic, arrogant, insolent, pitiless where thinkers and hypnotists are concerned, illiterate, shallow, incapable of reasoning outside of commercial lines, immeasurably selfish." (wikipedia.org)

Autor

Mark Twain was a prolific American author and humourist born in Florida, Missouri, in 1835. His real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens, but he adopted the pen name Mark Twain in the 1860s, which became his public persona. Twain's writing style was characterized by his use of colloquial language, wit and satire, which often made social and political commentary. He is considered one of the greatest American writers, and his works are known for their humour, social commentary and insight into the human condition. Some of Twain's most famous works include The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Prince and the Pauper and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. His writing often addressed themes of social injustice, morality and the importance of individual freedom. In addition to his writing, Twain was also a prolific lecturer and public speaker, and his witty remarks and humorous stories were widely popular. Twain's personal life was marked by tragedy, including the loss of his wife and two of his children. He died in 1910 at the age of 74, but his legacy as a writer and humourist continues to live on, and his influence can be seen in the works of many modern writers.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Bibliotech Press
• Seitenzahl: 154
• Erscheinungstermin: 9. Januar 2023
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 229mm x 152mm x 9mm
• Gewicht: 261g
• ISBN-13: 9798888303238
• Artikelnr.: 66874304