A Double-Barreled Detective Story (Our American Heritage) [Unabridged] [Audio CD]

Mark Twain (Author), Thomas Becker (Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2003 | Series: Our American Heritage

"Commuters Library might have the bet Twain on the market".-The Society for Performance Literature. First published in Harper's Monthly in 1902, this little known parody of Sherlock Holmes and the English detective story is a delight. Unabridged

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Originally published in 1902, this novella occupies a decidedly minor place among Twain's works. While it offers flashes of brilliance, it is in the main a dreary story that even Twain buffs wish had never been written. Indeed, many listeners may find it repulsive. The tale begins in 1880 with the marriage of a Virginia belle to a blackguard who abuses her for months, then ties her to a tree, has bloodhounds tear off her clothes, and abandons her. Afterward, the woman bears a son who proves to have the tracking powers of a bloodhound. Years later, she sends him off to track down his father and torment him, in revenge. Unpleasant stuff, but the story does have light moments, including the appearance of a bumbling Sherlock Holmes. Thomas Becker's reading is competent but does nothing to improve the text. Recommended only to libraries that want complete Twain collections.
R. Kent Rasmussen, Thousand Oaks, CA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From AudioFile

Twain's wit and extraordinary ability as a wordsmith are brought to life in this fully voiced dramatic reading. Each character in this convoluted parody of the nineteenth-century mystery is delightfully distinct, from the British aristocratic voice of Sherlock Holmes, to the stern sheriff who sounds remarkably like John Wayne. As expected, the story begins with a "heinous crime" which must, in due course, be avenged. How this comes about is a challenge for modern-day listeners unused to the flowery language of the past. But perseverance is amply repaid by the amusing and satisfying conclusion. An excellent alliance between text and reader. S.G. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: In Audio; Unabridged edition (January 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584722428
• ISBN-13: 978-1584722427
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,367,073 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Twain on Automatic Pilot, May 16, 1998

By 

Eugene G. Barnes (Dunn Loring, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Double-Barreled Detective Story (Audio Cassette)

Twain could always come up with a good yarn, and this is as good as any, so far as plot is concerned. But this send-up of the Sherlock Holmes genre never really gets off the ground. A send-up should be funny. But there is too much in the plot that is evil and dark, so Holmes' appearance -- and his incorrect solution -- become merely annoying. The reader on the tape version does what he can to keep things moving along, but he cannot stifle the inevitable feeling in the listener that this is Twain churning out words for money. Still, it IS Twain after all, and so it does have its moments. Just not enough of them.