Mark Twain's last book is The Mysterious Stranger, and here is a sample narrative of the first chapter. I miss Samuel Clemens!
Description
Vocal Characteristics
Language
EnglishVoice Age
Middle Aged (35-54)Accents
North American (General) North American (US General American - GenAM)Transcript
Note: Transcripts are generated using speech recognition software and may contain errors.
It was 15 90 winter, Austria was far away from the world and asleep. It was still the Middle Ages in Austria and promised to remain so forever. Some even said it away, back centuries upon centuries and said that by the mental and spiritual clock it was still the age of belief in Austria. But they meant it as a compliment, not a slur. And it was so taken, and we were all proud of it. I remember it well. Although I was only a boy and I remember to the pleasure it gave me. Yes, Austria was far from the world and asleep, and our village was in the middle of that sleep. Being in the middle of Austria, it drowsy in peace in the deep privacy of a hilly and would see solitude, where news from the world hardly ever came to disturb its dreams and was infinitely content. At its front flowed the tranquil river, its surface painted with cloud forms and the reflections of drifting arcs and stone boats. Behind it rose the woody steeps to the base of the lofty precipice. From the top of the precipice frowned a vast castle. It's long stretch of towers and bastions mailed in vines where the sun never penetrated and to the right, a precipice overlooked the river, and between it and the hills just spoken off lay a far reaching plain, dotted with little homesteads nested among orchards and shade trees. The whole region for leagues round was the hereditary property of a prince whose servants kept the castle always in perfect condition for occupancy. But neither he nor his family came there often er, than once in five years. When they came, it was a Ziff. The Lord of the World had arrived and had brought all the glories of its kingdoms along. And when they went, they left a column behind, which was like the deep sleep, which follows an orgy. Essel Dorf was a paradise for us boys. We were not over much pestered with schooling. Mainly, we were trained to be good Christians to revere the Virgin, the church and the saints above everything. Beyond these matters, we were not required to know much, and in fact not allowed to knowledge was not good for the common people and could make them discontented with the lot which God had appointed for them. and God would not endure discontentment with his plans. We had two priests, one of them. Father Adolphe was a very zealous and strenuous priest. Much considered There may have been better priests in some ways than Father Adolphe, but there was never one in our commune who was held in more solemn and awful respect. This was because he had absolutely no fear of the devil. He was the only Christian I have ever known, of whom that could be truly said. People stood in deep dread of him on that account, for they thought that there must be something supernatural about him. Else he could not be so bold and so confident. All men speaking bitter disapproval of the devil. But they do it reverently, not flippantly. But Father a else way was very different. He called him by every name he could lay his tongue to, and it made everyone shudder. That hurt him, and often he would even speak of him scornfully and scuffing Lee. Then the people crossed themselves and went quickly out of his presence. Fearing that something fearful might happen. Father Adolf had actually met Satan face to face more than once and defied him. This was known to be so Father Adolphe said it himself. He never made any secret of it, but spoke it right out and that he was speaking true. There was proof in at least one instance for on that occasion he quarrelled with the enemy and intrepid Lee through his bottle at him and there, upon the wall of his study, was the ruddy splotch where it struck and broke. But it was Father Peter, the other priests that we all loved best. And we're sorriest for some people charged him with talking around in conversation that God was all goodness and would find a way to save all his poor human Children. It was a horrible thing to say, but there was never any absolute proof that Father Peter said it, and it was out of character for him to say it to, for he was always good and gentle and truthful. He wasn't charged with saying it in the pulpit where all the congregation could here and testify, but only outside and talk. And it is easy for enemies to manufacture that Father Peter had an enemy and a very powerful one. Theus astrologer, who lived in a tumbled old tower up the valley and put in his night studying the stars. Everyone knew he could for tell wars and famines that that was not so hard, for There was always a war and generally a famine somewhere. But he could also read any man's life through the stars and a big book he had and find lost property, and everyone in the village except Father Peter stood in all of him. Even Father Adolphe, who had defied the devil, had a wholesome respect for the astrologer when he came through our village wearing his tall, pointed hat and his long flowing robe with stars on it, carrying his big book and a staff which was known to have magic power.