Tales (illustrated)

The Mysterious Stranger, published posthumously in 1916 and belonging to Twain's "dark"
period, belies the popular image of the affable American humorist. In this anti-religious
tale, Twain denies the existence of a benign Providence, a soul, an after-life, and even
reality itself. As the Stranger in the story asserts, "nothing exists; all is a dream."

Twian's popular novel chronicles the adventures of two young boys, a Prince and a
Pauper, who exchange roles and stations in life. Each boy has strong misconception's
of what the other boys life is like and series of educational and entertaining
adventures play out as the boys grow more comfortable in both their real and assumed
roles in life. Mark Twain's Prince and the Pauper is a popular story and a classic
from American Literature.