Mark Twain's Views Of Religion, by Caroline Thomas Harnsberger, unabridged audiobook. Notes and Bibliography. 87 minutes. Narrated by Richard Henzel. Complete Reference notes are on line at
"...Not only is the book excellent... but the reading and narration are superb! I love audio books, especially of non-fiction, but I have put some down after not being able to get past some peccadillo of the reader. I forgot this was Rick Henzel reading, which is the greatest compliment I can give..! (I'd love this to be required reading/listening for our many and various fundamentalist brethren.."
--Rev. David Weber, elder, North Texas Conference United Methodist Church
"I just finished your enormously entertaining, intellectually intoxicating, extremely balanced exploration of Mark Twain's religious principles and prejudices. What an invigorating journey..."
--Lawrence Bommer, Theatre Critic, The Chicago Reader.
American actor and Mark Twain interpreter Richard Henzel narrates Caroline Thomas Harnsberger's definitive catalog of Mark Twain's religious philosphies. Ms. Harnsberger enjoyed a twenty year friendship with Mark Twain's lone surviving daughter, Clara Clemens Samossoud, from 1942 until Clara's death in 1962. In Mark Twain's Views Of Religion, Ms. Harnsberger presents Mark Twain's most personal and considered opinions on the full range of religious thought, including Catholicism--"If I ever change my religion I shall change to that," Christian Science--"The very best part of the Christian Science philosophy is...it brings healing to the spirit and is estimably valuable...", and the Bible "To trust the God of the Bible is to trust an irascible, vindictive, fierce and ever fickle and changeful master..." She has included numerous wonderful unpublished comments which Clemens had penciled into the margins of his personal library of philosophical writings, such gems as "Statesmanship and assmanship are spelt different;" "Heaven for climate--Hell for society;" and "...of all the delights of this world man cares most for sexual intercourse...you would never guess--he has left it out of his heaven! Prayer takes its place."
87 minutes. Complete reference notes online.