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ladyoftheships's review against another edition
5.0
It really makes you take things into perspective when it comes to religion and personal gains.
tiaschmidt's review
5.0
Really wonderful short story. Still extremely relevant today. Loved it! It's free online in case anyone is wanting to read this quick, but powerful short.
robk's review against another edition
4.0
This little poem (to be fair, I don't know if the work is originally poetry, or if the publisher stylized this as a poem) is a wonderful indictment of blind patriotism during war time. I picked this up because I didn't know that Twain had written poetry, and I was curious to see what his verse had to offer.
The War Prayer was classic Twain. Slightly sardonic, tongue-in-cheek, while also being insightful, clever and profound. Twain tells of a town whose men are preparing to march to battle. The Sunday before the fight is to begin, the preacher, in front of a packed congregation, prays for a victory. During the pontifical prayer, a man dressed in a white robe walks to the front of the congregation and offers another prayer, emphasizing the destruction, death, suffering and misery that a victory would necessarily bring the opposition. In praying for victory, we are saying two prayers, Twain says.
It reminded me of my high school football days. Before games, I used to say a prayer, asking God to bless my team with a win. After a while, however, I realized that players on the other team were also praying for victory. I began to see how foolish it is to pray for victory because, if God loves all his children, he can't pick sides in a measly high school football game. War is similar, I believe. It is one thing to pray for a speedy resolution. It is one thing to pray for the health and safety of soldiers. Praying for victory, however, is another thing: it is praying for someone to lose, someone to die.
The War Prayer was classic Twain. Slightly sardonic, tongue-in-cheek, while also being insightful, clever and profound. Twain tells of a town whose men are preparing to march to battle. The Sunday before the fight is to begin, the preacher, in front of a packed congregation, prays for a victory. During the pontifical prayer, a man dressed in a white robe walks to the front of the congregation and offers another prayer, emphasizing the destruction, death, suffering and misery that a victory would necessarily bring the opposition. In praying for victory, we are saying two prayers, Twain says.
It reminded me of my high school football days. Before games, I used to say a prayer, asking God to bless my team with a win. After a while, however, I realized that players on the other team were also praying for victory. I began to see how foolish it is to pray for victory because, if God loves all his children, he can't pick sides in a measly high school football game. War is similar, I believe. It is one thing to pray for a speedy resolution. It is one thing to pray for the health and safety of soldiers. Praying for victory, however, is another thing: it is praying for someone to lose, someone to die.
kellyholmes's review against another edition
5.0
It doesn't take long to read -- maybe 20-30 minutes. Be sure the read the excerpt from Twain's biography in the first pages. It really puts it in perspective.
alex_henault's review against another edition
5.0
This short piece by Twain takes the Christian prayer and reflects what it is we really are asking from God when we ask for his blessing in any cause.
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