The Mysterious Stranger

Twain gave a very special character to the idea of “The Mysterious Stranger”; he believed that in this book he would finally be able to express himself fully on a number of social, moral, and philosophical questions that troubled him.

The story takes place in a remote medieval Austrian village. The mysterious hero, who calls himself Satan and possesses miraculous supernatural power, interferes in the lives of the residents of Ezeldorf—people mired in self-interest, in bleak beliefs, and in ridiculous, humiliating prejudices. He becomes close with three teenage boys he befriends. Satan holds conversations about the unjust social order, about religion, and about the nature and character of human beings; he criticizes people for their cruelty toward one another and for their cowardly groveling before wealth and despotism. He speaks of the terrifying and purifying power of laughter in the struggle against prejudices that cloud people’s minds.

A feature film, “Philip Traum,” was made based on this story.