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Hailed as a bold foray into new literary territory, Kawakami’s novel is told in the voice of a 14-year-old student subjected to relentless torment for having a lazy eye. Instead of resisting, the boy chooses to suffer in complete resignation. The only person who understands what he is going through is a female classmate who suffers similar treatment at the hands of her tormenters.

As the dying prepare to leave this world, they often begin to get a glimpse of what lies beyond through deathbed visits from deceased loved ones, strangers, and angelic or divine figures. Religious beliefs appear to have no bearing on these experiences - even atheists and nonbelievers have reported such phenomena. At times these visits are experienced by others in the room, offering incredible validity to the idea that life truly does continue.

Join grizzled sea captain Eli Stormfield as he embarks on a whimsical journey to the afterlife, piloting a ship toward heaven. Along the way, he encounters unexpected detours and navigational mishaps, leading to a heavenly destination that feels surprisingly disorienting. Originally penned in the late 1870s, this enchanting tale didn’t grace the pages of Harper’s Magazine until December 1907 and January 1908. The following year, it was published as a charming Christmas gift book, marking the last work Mark Twain released during his lifetime. (Summary by Gregg Margarite)

In Captain Stormfields Visit to Heaven, Mark Twain takes readers on a whimsical journey through the cosmos with Captain Stormfield, who finds himself in a hilariously convoluted adventure to the afterlife. Published in 1909, this thought-provoking short story explores the absurdities of our perceptions of heaven, where souls become just as enamored with celestial celebrities like Adam and Moses as we are with stars on Earth. Twains sharp wit and keen observations challenge traditional beliefs about the afterlife, making this tale both entertaining and insightful.

Thirty years after his death, Capt. Stormfield is still speeding across the universe, on his way to the next life, though he doesn't know yet where or when his journey will end. It's not a spoiler to tell you that he does get into heaven (it's in the title after all), but you may be surprised at some of the customs, characters, and spectacles he finds there.

"Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven" is a short-story written by American writer Mark Twain and published in 1909. The story follows Captain Stormfield on his extremely long cosmic journey to heaven, his accidental misplacement, his short-lived interest in singing and playing the harp, and the obsession of souls with the "celebrities" of heaven, like Adam and Moses, whom, according to Twain, become as distant to most people in heaven as living celebrities are on Earth. Twain uses this story to show his view that the common conception of heaven is ludicrous and points out the incongruities of...