The Mysterious Stranger

Considered one of Twain's darkest works, The Mysterious Stranger reveals the somber side of the literary genius. Twain wrote portions of the novel that would eventually comprise The Mysterious Stranger from 1890 to 1910, and the edition published posthumously in 1916 focuses largely on the tale of Satan's nephew living in Austria during the Middle Ages. A serious commentary on moral sense theory and the destiny of the human race, The Mysterious Stranger is not only an excellent example of Twain's range as a writer but also features gorgeous artwork by the preeminent early twentieth-century illustrator N. C. Wyeth.