My Mark Twain [Paperback]

William Dean Howells (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 22, 1997

Warm, compassionate, beautifully written work offers unparalleled perceptions of celebrated humorist's faults, foibles, and personality, as well as insights into the spirit and style of his writing. Includes reviews of Innocents Abroad, Roughing It, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court and other works.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Howells and Twain were pals for 40 years. In 1910, Howells published this collection of anecdotes and observations about his friend gleaned from firsthand experience. The book also includes Howells's reviews of several of Twain's books. A pleasant sojourn for Twain fans.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Renowned American novelist, critic, and champion of literary realism. A versatile writer, Howells penned novels, poetry, travelogues, essays and pieces of literary criticism. His writings stand out for his vivid impressionism and realistic portrayal of life. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (May 22, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486296407
• ISBN-13: 978-0486296401
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,172,834 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #95 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Authors

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Affectionate biography by an old friend, February 2, 2005

By 

Emerson Randolph (Indianapolis, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Mark Twain (Paperback)

If you really want to know Mr. Clemens, don't stop with the modern biographies. Read this one by his long-time good friend and consultant. Howells wrote this book in 1910, the year Clemens died. It is a fond recollection of the 44 years he had known the author. Clemens was a complicated man and Howells admits that he did not always understand him. But Howells, a great writer himself, comes close to describing the multi-faceted person that Clemens was. Yes, he was Mark Twain, but that was just one part of a man who surely must be one of the most interesting Americans who ever stood in the spotlight of the world. He was a superstar before radio, TV, and movies. This is certainly not an unbiased account of his life. Howells was clearly in awe of Clemens, a man who was unlike himself in so many ways. He was fascinated by Clemens and drawn to him. How lucky we are that we have this insightful and personal biography, beautifully written by someone who obviously wanted to get it right. Howells put Clemens at the top of the list: "Emerson, Longfellow, Lowell, Holmes - I knew them all and all the rest of our sages, poets, seers, critics, humorists; they were like one another and like other literary men; but Clemens was sole, incomparable, the Lincoln of our literature."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars thank you..., July 19, 2008

By 

Peter J. Murphy "silllyscotsman" (kent WA usa) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: My Mark Twain (Paperback)

this is a must book for anyone really interested in mark twain... thank you for publishing it...