Sign in with Facebook
85th out of 250 books
—
80 voters
The War Prayer
by
Mark Twain
Written by Mark Twain during the Philippine-American War in the first decade of the twentieth century, The War Prayer tells of a patriotic church service held to send the town's young men off to war. During the service, a stranger enters and addresses the gathering. He tells the patriotic crowd that their prayers for victory are double-edged-by praying for victory they are
...morePaperback, 5 pages
Published
September 28th 1994
by Encore Performance Publishing
(first published January 1st 1900)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
1,175)
I wasn’t looking for another Mark Twain when I wandered round Powell’s book store the other day. But I was browsing the sales table and was surprised to spot a very slender volume bearing his name — the War Prayer. The fact that it was slender attracted me as much as the price — a short classic? Then I opened the book and found that, true to its size, it's really just a short story, or story poem, published after his death because Mark Twain said “I have told the whole truth…and only dead men ca...more
Apr 20, 2012
Erik Graff
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
everyone
Recommended to Erik by:
The War Resisters' League
Shelves:
literature
Part of my ideological-philosophical formation was accomplished in association with and under the influence of friends, some under that of publications and organizations. In high school, for instance, I belonged to the Students for a Democratic Society and The War Resisters' League, association with the latter continuing through college and beyond.
I believe I purchased Twain's The War Prayer from an WRL literature offering either in high school (this edition first came out in '68) or during the...more
I believe I purchased Twain's The War Prayer from an WRL literature offering either in high school (this edition first came out in '68) or during the...more
This work of Mark Twain was published 6 years after his death in 1910. The only reason that he asked his publishers not to publish it was that "he did not want to look like a lunatic or fanatic".
The reason for Twain's hesitation in publishing this work is obvious after reading it. At the time it was written war was considered to be serving a countries pride.
Even after the end of the kings and their empires we still lived (and live?) in a world where war was considered an evil necessity. Countr...more
The reason for Twain's hesitation in publishing this work is obvious after reading it. At the time it was written war was considered to be serving a countries pride.
Even after the end of the kings and their empires we still lived (and live?) in a world where war was considered an evil necessity. Countr...more
"It was a time of great and exalting excitement. The country was up in arms, the war was on, in every breast burned the holy fire of patriotism; the drums were beating, the bands playing, the toy pistols popping, the bunched firecrackers hissing and spluttering; on every hand and far down the receding and fading spread of roofs and balconies a fluttering wilderness of flags flashed in the sun; daily the young volunteers marched down the wide avenue gay and fine in their new uniforms, the proud f...more
This you must read. It will take you all of five minutes to read, and all of a lifetime to ponder and remember.
During a time of war, as soldiers march to battle, a minister prays for the safety of the troops and victory in their task. After finishing, a man who claims to be from the Throne prays aloud the silent prayer behind the words of the minister. He also tells the congregation that if, after hearing the silent prayer they still want victory in war...
That we may never forget that silent pra...more
During a time of war, as soldiers march to battle, a minister prays for the safety of the troops and victory in their task. After finishing, a man who claims to be from the Throne prays aloud the silent prayer behind the words of the minister. He also tells the congregation that if, after hearing the silent prayer they still want victory in war...
That we may never forget that silent pra...more
Understanding that Mark Twain was pretty seriously anti-war, I found this a really poignant piece that pointed out the (sometimes overlooked) consequences of war, and of the political positions we adopt, and ask God to make victorious. War is, unfortunately, an unavoidable part of a sinful world, and I think that regardless of Twain's personal religious beliefs, he understood that, and he understood (and pointed out) that a good outcome for one can very often be a severe casualty for another.
Abo...more
Abo...more
In a church, young men are being gathered together prior to being shepherded off to their red, white, and blue deaths. To die for God and country! Those assembled laud this as no better fate, especially when accompanied by the slaughter of their faraway (and certainly less than human and likely heathen) enemies. But then a stranger walks in and suggests to them that praying for murder may not be such a good thing after all. Sadly, that prayer is far too common, as Twain makes clear with gravity...more
This is not so much a book as an essay with drawings to add impact to the tale of a messenger who tries to educate a congregation during church services as they wrongly pray for the victory of American soldiers who are quelling riots in the Philippines with brutal force viewing the Filipinos as subhuman and outside of God's graces. It is a sad short story with a tragic ending that I won't give away. This is a must read for those who pray for American victory in conflicts the globe over as it off...more
Twain wrote this moving anti-war poem in response to the Spanish-American war, but his family thought the sentiments were too harsh to publish during his lifetime. The poem was first published in 1916, during World War I, and this edition, movingly illustrated by John Groth, was originally published in 1968. The poem confronts a group of Christians praying for protection of their sons and brothers on the battlefield with the unspoken side of their prayer asking God to hurt and kill the people on...more
This is so short it could be considered a short story, but was also published on its own. It's a powerful polemic against war, in the form of a reminder to a congregation praying for victory of what their victory would mean for their opponents.
The last sentence seals the piece with Twain's characteristic ironic view of things.
The last sentence seals the piece with Twain's characteristic ironic view of things.
Came upon this by accident. I teach history and spend a lot of time discussing the concept of nationalism both pros and cons. This is definitely something that I will use in class. It is really interesting how Twain takes something perceived to be admirable and gets the reader to see the consequences of their actions. The ending in which the man is discredited is a powerful way to end the story.
This simple book takes about 10 minutes to read, but its profundity stays with you for 10 hours if not 10 days! Using a very simple style, Twain says more against war than a lot of books do in very complicated ways. I couldn't stop thinking about it - and I read it once every couple of months or so. Highly recommended!
A while back, I believe it was shortly after September 11th, a guy I was working with lived next to this crotchety old man. I don't remember the context, but I think he needed to borrow something from him (like a screwdriver or wrench). He invited me inside his house where I noticed he had an entire wall of books written by Mark Twain. We started talking, and I noted that I really enjoy Mark Twain. He looks at me and asks:
"How do you feel about George Bush?"
"I don't really agree with his policie...more
"How do you feel about George Bush?"
"I don't really agree with his policie...more
All to often I have heard this, of course in the tame sense, prayer spoken by Christians. Excellent reflection, even coming from someone who was not much if any of a Christian: Twain. Christians should always remember the words from Jesus, while being falsely executed, to His enemies: Father forgive them.
I appreciated the antiwar parable. Twain presents such thought-provoking questions and challenges the reader to consider what it is we are really wanting. How do our prayers {our patriotism or maybe even hopes for the future} affect our far-away {or sometimes not so far-away} neighbors?
This poem/prayer/story told about a church's prayer for victory in a national war. A messenger from God enters after the sermon to explain victory for one man is destruction of another of God's men. The congregation didn't recognize this truth. Dave Papa's book, given to me about 4 months prior to his death.
Just finished this one. A good 20 min. Read.
This is what you would guess from Mark Twain. As so many of his writings, Twain refused this piece to be published as people would think him Insane.
Not exactly my beliefs, but still a can't miss.
This is what you would guess from Mark Twain. As so many of his writings, Twain refused this piece to be published as people would think him Insane.
Not exactly my beliefs, but still a can't miss.
A very brief, but devastatingly powerful, demand that people who advocate war consider all the ramifications. This book should be read aloud and then discussed in a joint session of Congress every time there is a decision to be made about whether to go to war - if it had been, our country would have been in many fewer wars - probably a handful instead of the dozens that history actually records.
Twain's tone in this is angry, sad, and finally bleak. His view of the situation and most people's thi...more
Twain's tone in this is angry, sad, and finally bleak. His view of the situation and most people's thi...more
Wow! Clemens strikes a chord with this essay. Setting: a church, the day before a group of soldiers leaves home. All the soldiers and their families are present to receive God's blessing on their cause. Enter the stranger who steps to the pulpit and exhorts the congregation to think of what the other side is hearing in the same setting, their own churches. When we tell one side to destroy the other, we are encouraging horrible bloodshed and death and suffering while the enemy is hearing that God...more
Not many people have read this exceptionally short book by Mark Twain. Everyone should. It will make you think twice before uttering some kinds of prayers.
It doesn't take long to read -- maybe 20-30 minutes. Be sure the read the excerpt from Twain's biography in the first pages. It really puts it in perspective.
Mark Twain's greatest work. Should be read by every church goer, school student, politician, and veteran. It will make us all more enlightened people.
You can probably find this online, and it is worth reading. The end is fantastic. You can read it in 10 minutes or less. Mark Twain was a genius.
Twain knew he'd written such a powerful anti-war prose poem that he insisted it not be published until after his death, lest the critical and public backlash paint him unpatriotic. Find a copy with the accompanying line drawings and spend twenty or so minutes reading it some afternoon.
My father-in-law is correct - this slim volume deserves to be read by everyone. I'll talk it over with Henry when it's age-appropriate.
During a wartime church service an unusual stranger enters the chapel with a 'message' for the congregation...
I didn't absorb this one well listening to it aloud, I'm going to try to find a version to read
the copy i have is from 1971. i believe i may have read it before, but am unsure.
One of the most powerful poems I've ever read. Especially now, since it's so applicable.
Short, but very powerful. This book was not published until after Mark Twain died.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist. He is noted for his novels Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885), called "the Great American Novel", and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876).
Twain grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, which would later provide the setting for Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. He apprenticed with a printer. He also work...more
More about Mark Twain...
Twain grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, which would later provide the setting for Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. He apprenticed with a printer. He also work...more
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“It was indeed a glad and gracious time, and the half dozen rash spirits that ventured to disapprove of the war and cast a doubt upon its righteousness straightway got such a stern and angry warning that for their personal safety's sake they quickly shrank out of sight and offended no more in that way.”
—
1 person liked it
“Sunday morning came – next day the battalions would leave for the front; the church was filled; the volunteers were there, their young faces alight with martial dreams – visions of the stern advance, the gathering momentum, the rushing charge, the flashing sabers, the flight of the foe, the tumult, the enveloping smoke, the fierce pursuit, the surrender! Then home from the war, bronzed heroes, welcomed, adored, submerged in golden seas of glory! With the volunteers sat their dear ones, proud, happy, and envied by the neighbors and friends who had no sons and brothers to send forth to the field of honor, there to win for the flag, or, failing, die the noblest of noble deaths. The service proceeded; a war chapter from the Old Testament was read; the first prayer was said; it was followed by an organ burst that shook the building, and with one impulse the house rose, with glowing eyes and beating hearts, and poured out that tremendous invocation”
—
0 people liked it
More quotes…
