Tales, Speeches, Essays, and Sketches (Penguin Classics) [Paperback]

Mark Twain (Author), Tom Quirk (Contributor)

Book Description

Series: Penguin Classics | Publication Date: September 1, 1994

This a collection of Mark Twain's short fiction and prose pieces. It contains stories of varied genres from "Pudd'nhead Wilson's Calendar" with its comic wit, and the brooding "The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg", to the satirical "The Innocents Abroad" and "Roughing It".

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Samuel Clemens still stuns in whatever form he chooses--the fable, the essay, the speech, sketch, or one-liner ("The very ink with which all history is written is merely fluid prejudice."). This fine collection features several hilarious pieces, including a story in the early, lighter section by "Grandfather Twain"--about "a bad little boy, whose name was Jim--though, if you will notice, you will find that bad little boys are nearly always called James in your Sunday-school books.... He didn't have a sick mother either--a sick mother who was pious and had the consumption, and would be glad to lie down in the grave and be at rest, but for the strong love she bore her boy ..." In his later years, though parody and bleak humor abound, Twain extended his range from animal rights to anti-imperialism, from bitterness to despair. "To the Person Sitting in Darkness" remains a powerful, immediate indictment of America's colonial annexation of the Philippines. His suggested flag for the province? Just the usual one, "with the white stripes painted black and the stars replaced by the skull and cross-bones."

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics (September 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140434178
• ISBN-13: 978-0140434170
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #303,744 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mark Twain (1835-1910) was an American humorist, satirist, social critic, lecturer and novelist. He is mostly remembered for his classic novels The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The humor that redeems, October 30, 2005

By 

Shalom Freedman "Shalom Freedman" (Jerusalem,Israel) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Tales, Speeches, Essays, and Sketches (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

This is a varied collection of the writings of American's greatest humorist. It contains many of his most well- known short pieces from the devastating critique of Fenimore - Cooper to 'The Man Who Corrupted Hadleyburg'. It contains newspaper reportage, short stories, literary essays, excerpts from his books.
In almost all that he writes his great humor keeps us smiling, laughing and reading.

5.0 out of 5 stars Twain at His Best, January 20, 2011

By 

Jill Clardy "So many books, so little time...." (Redwood City, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Tales, Speeches, Essays, and Sketches (Penguin Classics) (Paperback)

Mark Twain is famous for his novels, including Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer; but beyond the novels he was the most prolific author and speaker of his time - truly the voice of America in his era. The speeches and essays in this collection are a terrific exposure to his wit and whimsy. Just flip open the book and read a few pages and you will be laughing or at list snickering at his wry take on almost any subject.