No. 44, The Mysterious Stranger

No. 44, The Mysterious Stranger Summary | Chapters 1 and 2 Summary

The Mysterious Stranger is the story of the fantasy events and magical occurrences in a print shop in a castle in Austria in 1490. The novella, which was published posthumously in 1916, 6 years after Mark Twain's death, addresses the issues of religion and self-discovery.

As the story begins, it is winter in Austria in the year 1490. Austria is tucked away geographically and socially and is still a very strict Catholic country. The story is told by 16-year-old August Feldner, who is a printer's apprentice at Rosenfeld Castle in Eseldorf, Austria.

August finds Austria to be the ideal location for boys because schooling is not emphasized and religion takes priority. Original thought is frowned upon in the village, and the local priest, Father Adolf, maintains his rounds to make sure that the unspoken rule is followed. Father Adolf is both feared and respected because he has no fear of the Devil and takes every opportunity to malign the satanic creature at every possible opportunity.

August lives in Rosenfeld Castle and is in the employ of a printing master named Heinrich Stein. The art of printing is relatively new to Europe and virtually unknown in Austria, making the craft highly valued and apprenticeships coveted. Although this new art form is gaining in importance, it is viewed suspiciously by the Catholic Church, which frowns on the dissemination of information to the masses. The priests let it be known that putting a little bit of knowledge in the heads of people who do not know how to manage it is just asking for trouble.

Heinrich is a portly, benevolent man married to Frau Stein, a skinny, parsimonious woman with a devilish tongue and stingy manner. Frau Stein's daughter from a previous marriage, 17-year-old Marie Vogel, also lives in the castle. Joining them are Heinrich's sister, Frau Regen, and her daughter, Marget, also 17.

Frau Stein has situated a magician named Balthasar Hoffman in the house to entertain her with talk of the constellations and magical occurrences. The remaining occupants of the castle include the men who work the print shop under Heinrich's guidance. The men include Adam Binks, a 60-year-old bachelor; Hans Katzenyammer, a 36-year-old man who likes his drink; Moses Haas, a 28-year-old malcontent; Barty Langbein, a 15-year-old crippled boy who does odd jobs around the print shop; Ernest Wasserman, a 17-year-old apprentice and a braggart; Gustav Fischer, a 27-year-old printer of higher caliber than any of his colleagues; and finally, 16-year-old August, the youngest apprentice in the shop.