Audiobook · read by volunteers
Eve’s Diary
Mark Twain (1835–1910)
Read by Esther, Mike Lockwood · 3 chapters · 38 min
About the book
The first woman in the world wakes up to a garden full of wonders, and she has a great deal to say about it. In Mark Twain’s humorous diary, Eve names the animals, studies the stars, falls in love with every flower and tries to understand the odd creature who shares the garden with her, a being who seems to like silence a good deal more than she does. Her entries are bright, curious and sharp, and they give Twain a chance to poke gentle fun at both sexes. Along with the diary comes a handful of Adam’s own comments, which tell their own side of the story. Warm, witty and brief, this recording lasts about thirty-five minutes, read by two voices, and is a delightful treat for an idle afternoon.
Introduction
Mark Twain, the pen name of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, lived from 1835 to 1910, and Eve’s Diary is one of his late humorous pieces. It was published in 1906. It is a humorous monologue about Eve’s experiences at the dawn of creation. She is fascinated by every aspect of the new world around her and by Adam, who is a rather different matter. The record of her first days is playful and tender, and Twain uses it to tell a love story in miniature.
The book belongs to a small group of Twain’s writings that look at the biblical story with a comic eye. Behind the jokes, however, there is feeling. Twain’s wife Olivia had died not long before he wrote it, and many readers have sensed a more personal note beneath its lightness. The final lines are often quoted for their simplicity and for the way they turn a joke into something deeply felt.
The text is also supplemented by comments from Adam. In one of them he describes Eve as all interest, eagerness and vivacity, a person for whom the world is a charm, a wonder, a mystery and a joy. These comments give the diary a second point of view and are among the most affecting parts of the book.
This recording is divided into three sections and lasts about thirty-five minutes. It is read by two LibriVox volunteers. It is a quick, charming listen, ideal for anyone who likes humour with a warm heart, and a good introduction to the gentler side of a writer best known for rivers and rascals.
Public domain
Mark Twain died in 1910: the work is in the public domain in Switzerland, more than 70 years after the author’s death.
The LibriVox volunteers dedicated this recording to the public domain.
Sources : LibriVox page · Files at the Internet Archive · Original text