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On Masturbation Kindle Edition

by Mark Twain (Author)

133 customer reviews

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America's Master Humorist on Masturbation

One evening in Paris, 1879, Mark Twain rose to the podium and tackled the touchiest of subjects: masturbation.

His remarks rubbed Victorian society the wrong way, and were censored for a century.

Here at long last is Twain's hilarious lecture on "The Science of Onanism." This edition includes an introduction and 30 vintage illustrations.

Available on Kindle and in paperback from Uncensored Classics.

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Product Details

File Size: 888 KB
Print Length: 38 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 144950325X
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Uncensored Classics (May 16, 2014)
Publication Date: May 16, 2014
Language: English
ASIN: B005H49S8Y
Text-to-Speech: Enabled

X-Ray:

Enabled

Word Wise: Not Enabled
Lending: Not Enabled
Enhanced Typesetting: Not Enabled
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #63,269 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #11 in Kindle Store > Kindle Short Reads > One hour (33-43 pages) > Humor & Entertainment
- #37 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Classics > Humor
- #296 in Kindle Store > Kindle Short Reads > One hour (33-43 pages) > Literature & Fiction

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Customer Reviews

133

3.6 out of 5 stars

5 star		38%
4 star		24%
3 star		12%
2 star		11%
1 star		15%

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 83 people found the following review helpful

Mark Twain: Baiting the Masters

By John Williamson TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE VOICE on September 30, 2012

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

As a longtime fan of Mark Twain's writing, I was surprised to see this title, On Masturbation, appearing here. I was puzzled, thinking that it might be some unusual parody similar to what we've seen appear recently on certain bestsellers dealing with multiple shades of grey. You never know these days.

But I was wrong, as this is actually a reprint of a speech that the witty and ever- irreverent lecturer and author Samuel Clemens, known more popularly by his pen name Mark Twain, did indeed deliver one evening in Paris in 1879. The Stomach Club, a group of American writers and artists, had gathered to drink, to eat a good dinner, and hear an address by Mark Twain. He was among friends and, according to the custom of the club, he delivered a humorous talk on a subject hardly ever mentioned in public in that day and age. The title of his lecture was "Some Thoughts on the Science of Onanism," and it was one of the most controversial that he ever delivered.

During his short but hilarious speech, Mark Twain offered some fictitious quotes from a wide array of masterful personages. He quotes Homer in the second book of the Iliad, Caesar in his Commentaries, Charles Darwin, Brigham Young, and even Benjamin Franklin, to name a few. In this book, these are interspaced with about thirty excellent black & white vintage illustrations to match the quotes. The introduction by author Sam Torode sets the pace, with his observation that Twain "demonstrated his complete mastery of the subject at hand.Read more ›

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25 of 25 people found the following review helpful

Funny and provocative

By PLG on June 27, 2012

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

Short and classicly Twain, this is a funny little essay that left me feeling like I almost could have been in the room when he read it out loud. Not explicit at all; in fact, without the title being so clear one might not entirely get the drift until several paragraphs in--unless one is quite familiar with older language. We thought it was quite funny and enjoyed it.

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20 of 22 people found the following review helpful

Entertaininf even today

By Paulette Buongirno on March 5, 2012

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

I found this essay by Mark Twain which I had never heard of so of course I had to read it. Considering that it was written over 100 years ago it was very entertaining and must have caused a stir in the day. Funny, entertaining and educational as well.

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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

Mark Twain: Master (De) Bater

By RazorbackAngie on October 8, 2012

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

When I came across this title I was a little puzzled. I clicked on it just to see if it was something "The" Mark Twain penned. As it turns out, yes, Twain did write this little satirical speech. If you are a fan and admirer of Twain, this is a must-have for your collection. It is witty, humorous, and deep.

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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

A delightful surprise

By Lotusland Lady on July 14, 2012

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

Who knew the author of Tom Sawyer and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court even would have known the term "Masturbation" much less have written on the subject with so much wit, urbanity and advocation? This essay could have been written today, except we have few writers who would do it so well. It is funny, fresh and spot on. I recommend it.

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

Hilarious

By Greg S. in MD on January 2, 2013

Format: Kindle Edition

I was looking through the Twain essays and could not pass this one up. I read it while in a public place and had to stifle my laughter. I can just imagine theaudence sitting there almost in shock, their jaws in their laps. Certainly glad I picked this one up.

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

A Hoot and the Nanny too

By Mypopey on May 17, 2013

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

Mark Twain, when genius is present on the page, what else is there to say. I would have loved to have seen this included in Hal Holbrook's "Mark Twain Tonight". A genius performing the work of one. What a treasure this country has in these two men.

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

Mark Twain, the equal opportunity offender

By KVS on December 18, 2012

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

Tackling one of the most taboo subjects with his usual cutting wit Mark Twain delivers embarrassed chuckles to a modern audience with a piece which scandalized his Victorian contemporaries.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Five Stars

To experiment is to add knowledge to ones list of learning.

Published 8 days ago by Bebo

Five Stars

the book that brought us the phrase "fundamental sigh"

Published 14 days ago by Benjamin

B+

short story from Twain and exactly what one would expect from the master

Published 15 days ago by Catherine Mulligan's A.M.

Mark Twain is great

Lots of fun. Totally irreverent and funny.

Published 23 days ago by Akinmt

More Twain than most readers have been exposed to.

If you are not familiar with Twain's less well-known writings this is a good, fast read and introduction to the deep wit of this master of the art. Read more

Published 27 days ago by Reader

DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME!!! OR MONEY!!!

This was not funny ...... like I would expect from Twain. It's just a bunch of stupid comments, pictures, historical notes. It's not worth the paper it's written on. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Elaine

Mark Handles a Delicate Subject

Only Mark Twain could speak so subtly humorously on a topic that was taboo to discuss in the Victorian era. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Nahkhii

Clever but short. Not worth buying. Doesn't have ...

Clever but short. Not worth buying. Doesn't have punch of other writings. For the time it was about as risqué as society would tolerate I guess. Read more

Published 2 months ago by Bill F.

King of Comedy

This is further evidence that Mark Twain is THEE King of Comedy.

Published 4 months ago by J. Jorgensen

Mark Twain is my favorite American author

Feb. 21, 2015 in the Year of Our Lord: Original Review:

Mark Twain is my favorite American author. I have probably read a dozen of his works. Read more

Published 5 months ago by Amazon Customer

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