The Mysterious Stranger

The Mysterious Stranger is a novel written by Mark Twain and first published posthumously in 1916.

The novel is set in the year 1590 and tells the story of three boys, Theodor, Seppi and Nikolaus who live happily in a quiet village in Austria called Eseldorf.

Theodor is the son of the organist and through him we know the story in which he narrates how one day a young man named Satan appears in the village, who claims to be an angel and a relative of the fallen angel also called by the same name.

This stranger was very kind to the people and had a charming personality which won the sympathy of the villagers. However, one day Satan claims that he can predict the future and narrates that some future negative events will happen to several loved ones.

The boys, although initially incredulous at such a claim, soon change their minds when the first of the prophecies comes true and beg Satan to intercede with them...

"It was in 1590—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 set 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, too, the pleasure it gave me".