A beautiful new edition of Mark Twain's infamous War Prayer illustrated with simply yet powerful illustrations to add new life to the text. The content itself begins with an introduction of Twain explaining why he believes that humans are the lowest of all animals which includes their dealings in cruelty, never having enough, enslaving fellow humans, patriotism, religion, and being the only creature that deals in war. This compelling case is then illustrated in a scene of a pastor praying for victory for recently departed soldiers in the latest war. As the pastor is praying for "victory" an unnamed person; presumably Jesus or simply another messenger of God comes into the church and expounds upon the unspoken part of the pastors prayer and the people's desire. The implication of victory for "their side" would mean utter loss for humans somewhere else across the globe. It would look like other "patriots" that were maimed, killed, writing in pain while widows grieved, children went without homes and parents, etc. The implications of a good patriot prayer in the time of war is at it's heart ruthless, immoral and inhuman and led Twain to believe that not only is patriotism ridiculous and disgusting, but caused him to ultimately believe that humankind was the lowest of all the animals.

It's a very short and compelling work made more powerful by excellent artistic illustrations. Highly recommend you take time to sit down and engage this one when it comes out!

#MarkTwainsWarPrayer #NetGalley

Twain’s impassioned skewering of war-mongering patriotism is strengthened by illustrations that are deceptively child-like but that actually present a dark and dangerous side of human beings. I was especially drawn to the pages of a dense repeated motifs, like the planes dropping bombs or the tanks among the burning homes. They were simultaneously mesmerizing and repulsive, which, I guess, is the point. We are drawn to war and battles and victory but we should be equally repelled by the destruction and pain and death it causes.

ARC from NetGalley