Mark Twain

"The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." -- Mark TwainMark Twain (1835-1910) was the first American writer to capture the unique and colorful vernacular of his country's populace. Instead of striving to perfect any particular literary form, Twain strove to precisely imprint on paper the colloquial speech, mannerisms and experiences of the American people.Twain's books earned him an enduring reputation as a satirist and humorist, but he also wrote great short stories. These stories, with their wonderful characters and witty turns-of-phrase, have defined in Americans' minds what it means to have been at a time in our country which was at once optimistic, exploratory and recklessly exploitative.Listeners can still benefit today from hearing Mark Twain's stories and selections from his novels as they become again what they originally were: the oral history of our uniquely American consciousness.Includes selections from Life on the Mississippi, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Roughing It, and The Autobiography of Mark Twain, and the short stories The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, The 1,000,000 Bank-Note, The Joke That Made Ed's Fortune, A Dog's Tale, A Story Without an End and many more.Performed by Ed Begley, Sr., Walter Brennan, Brandon de Wilde, Will Geer, and David Wayne

Skarpsynta samhällskritiska texter som inte saknar vare sig spänst i stilen eller Twains drastiska humor och som fortfarande har en aktualitet ett sekel efter dess tillkomst. Twain behandlar klassiska frågor som patriotism, motsättningen mellan bibeltolkning och religiöst utövande, ifrågasättande av experterna, mänsklig fåfänga i maktens glans, krigets fasor, den amerikanska lynchmentaliteten liksom den vita människans attityd mot och förmenta överlägsenhet gentemot andra folkslag och minoriteter.

This is the first and most complete collection of all 136 humorous sketches and tales that Samuel Clemens (1835-1910), a.k.a. Mark Twain, started writing as a young reporter for various newspapers and magazines and later saw fit to issue in book form. Many pieces appeared in rare, first printings, only to be dropped in subsequent editions for this reason, readers will encounter a number of yarns and tall tales unavailable elsewhere, even in the collected works. More unvarnished than his short stories or novels, and more willing to indulge in fun for its own sake, these sketches comprise a substantial share of his literary apprenticeship and legacy. As brilliant, representative nuggets of Twain's humour in its purest form, they carry the imprint of Twain's wit, imagination, and humanism, his fresh and always idiomatic prose. From 1862's "Curing a Cold" to 1904's "Italian Without a Master," this collection allows readers to share Twain's vision of life as a strange and comic affair. No one interested in American humour (or in need of a good laugh) can long remain indifferent to this uproarious book.

In the summer of 1855, when the nineteen-year-old Sam Clements traveled from Saint Louis to Hannibal, Paris, and Florida, Missouri, and then to Keokuk, Iowa, he carried with him a notebook in which he entered French lessons, phrenological information, miscellaneous observations, and reminders about errands to be performed. This first notebook thus took the random form which would characterize most of those to follow. About the text: In order to avoid editorial misrepresentation and to preserve the texture of autograph documents, the entries are presented in their original, often unfinished, form with most of Clemens' irregularities, inconsistencies, errors, and cancellations unchanged. Clemens' cancellations are included in the text enclosed in angle brackets, thus ; editorially-supplied conjectural readings are in square brackets, thus [word]; hyphens within square brackets stand for unreadable letters, thus [--]; and editorial remarks are italicized and enclosed in square brackets, thus [blank page}- A slash separates alternative readings which Clemens left unresolved, thus word/word. The separation of entries is indicated on the printed page by extra space between lines; when the end of a manuscript entry coincides with the end of a page of the printed text, the symbol [#] follows the entry. A full discussion of textual procedures accompanies the tables of emendation and details of inscription in the Textual Apparatus at the end of each volume; specific textual problems are explained in headnotes or footnotes when unusual situations warrant.

From the Introduction:It should always be with some misgivings that an editor presents to the public materials which an author has discarded. By returning the materials to his files, the author has voted against publication. By resurrecting them, the editor risks exposing the author to the adverse criticism which he wished to avoid. But, at the same time, the resurrection serves a valuable purpose by making available indispensable evidence to be used by those seeking to understand the creative process. It is because they serve such a purpose that the texts published in this volume have been salvaged from Mark Twain's files. Indeed, they are doubly valuable because they aid in dispelling a myth about his own creative process which Twain himself did much to establish. In several instances Twain gave the impression that for him plotting a novel was a rather simple affair...But in actuality, as the texts published in this volume illustrate, he experienced much more trouble than this statement would suggest in delimiting his fictional world, establishing its nature, and maintaining control over the characters placed therin.

Celebrate 150 years of mischief, adventure, and Americana with this timeless classic of boyhood and imagination. First published in 1876, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain remains one of the most beloved novels in American literature. Set along the Mississippi River, the story follows the endlessly curious Tom Sawyer as he skips school, plays pranks, falls head over heels for Becky Thatcher, and embarks on daring escapades with his friend Huckleberry Finn. What begins as carefree childhood fun soon deepens into a tale of courage and conscience when the boys witness a shocking crime. Often remembered as a children’s story, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer reveals new layers with every rereading, offering sharp social insight, moral complexity, and Twain’s signature wit that continues to resonate across generations. This commemorative edition features: Complete and unabridged text of Mark Twain’s classic novel Elegant faux-leather cover with foil-embossed designs A new introduction by Sarah Kerman A timeless keepsake celebrating the 150th anniversary of this American literary treasure, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a must-have for readers, collectors, and anyone rediscovering this enduring masterpiece. Essential volumes for the shelves of every classic literature lover, Chartwell Deluxe Editions include beautifully presented works from some of the most important authors in literary history. Also available from the series: Little Women, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Essential Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe, Anne of Green Gables, The Inferno, Dracula, The Republic, The Iliad, Meditations, and Irish Fairy and Folk Tales.

Mark Twain's historical satire about two identical boys who trade places to experience a life they never imagined, now available in an unabridged, paperback volume in Union Square and Co.'s Signature Editions series. Set in sixteenth-century England, The Prince and the Pauper is Mark Twain's timeless tale of identical strangers, the penniless Tom Canty living in the London slums and the royal Prince Edward, who switch places to experience what the other's life has to offer. Subtitled "A Tale for Young People of All Ages," The Prince and the Pauper blends action and comedy with a witty satire of social hierarchy that has resonated with readers for generations.

Labeled as subversive and politically controversial, Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was banned for its use of racial slurs and for portraying a mischievous, “unruly” protagonist as a poor role model. As part of Dover’s Banned Books series, this edition explores the novel’s historical context, its censorship battles, and its bold, enduring commentary on race and society.

A gorgeously giftable special hardback edition of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Bound in high-quality cloth with a dazzling new foil-stamped cover design, Puffin’s Clothbound Classics are a gift that book lovers of all ages will treasure forever. 'Who knows, he may grow up to be President someday, unless they hang him first!' On the banks of the Mississippi, Tom Sawyer and his friends seek out adventure at every turn. Until one fateful night, when they witness a murder. The boys swear never to reveal the secret, and run away to be pirates and search for hidden treasure. But when Tom gets trapped in a cave with the murderer, he'll need his wits about him to escape unharmed. Gift the best-loved classics to a new generation with Puffin’s stunning Clothbound Classics. Bound in high-quality cloth with dazzling new foil-stamped designs, these coveted and highly collectable hardback editions will be treasured forever. The perfect gift for book lovers and new readers alike.

Mark Twain's social satire novel about a Connecticut engineer who gets transported back in time to the court of King Arthur, freshly repackaged for the Union Square & Co. Signature Editions line. When Hank Morgan, an engineer from East Hartford, Connecticut, suffers a blow to the head, he inexplicably finds himself transported from his nineteenth-century home to Middle Ages England during the reign of King Arthur. Using his knowledge of science and technology, Hank must navigate an unfamiliar medieval world whose idyllic façade covers a harsh and unforgiving underbelly.

Mark Twain's final and uncensored masterpiece, presented in three volumes, is a landmark publication in American literature. “Twain will begin to seem strange again, alluring and still astonishing . . . in ways that still resonate with us.”—New York Times “His crystalline humor and expansive range are a continuous source of delight and awe.”—Los Angeles Times Book Review When the first volume of Mark Twain’s uncensored Autobiography was published in 2010, it was hailed as an essential addition to the shelf of his works and a crucial document for our understanding of the great humorist’s life and times. This third and final volume crowns and completes his life’s work. Like its companion volumes, it chronicles Twain's inner and outer life through a series of daily dictations that go wherever his fancy leads. Created from March 1907 to December 1909, these dictations present Mark Twain at the end of his life: receiving an honorary degree from Oxford University; railing against Theodore Roosevelt; founding numerous clubs; incredulous at an exhibition of the Holy Grail; credulous about the authorship of Shakespeare’s plays; relaxing in Bermuda; observing (and investing in) new technologies. The Autobiography’s “Closing Words” movingly commemorate his daughter Jean, who died on Christmas Eve 1909. Also included in this volume is the previously unpublished “Ashcroft-Lyon Manuscript,” Mark Twain’s caustic indictment of his “putrescent pair” of secretaries and the havoc that erupted in his house during their residency. Fitfully published in fragments at intervals throughout the twentieth century, Autobiography of Mark Twain has now been critically reconstructed and made available as it was intended to be read. Fully annotated by the editors of the Mark Twain Project, the complete Autobiography emerges as a landmark publication in American literature. Editors: Benjamin Griffin and Harriet Elinor Smith Associate Editors: Victor Fischer, Michael B. Frank, Amanda Gagel, Sharon K. Goetz, Leslie Diane Myrick, Christopher M. Ohge

Mark Twain's final and uncensored masterpiece, presented in three volumes, is a landmark publication in American literature. “Twain will begin to seem strange again, alluring and still astonishing . . . in ways that still resonate with us.”—New York Times “His crystalline humor and expansive range are a continuous source of delight and awe.”—Los Angeles Times Book Review Mark Twain’s complete, uncensored Autobiography was an instant bestseller when the first volume was published in 2010, on the centennial of the author’s death, as he requested. Published to rave reviews, the Autobiography was hailed as the capstone of Twain’s career. It captures his authentic and unsuppressed voice, speaking clearly from the grave and brimming with humor, ideas, and opinions. The eagerly-awaited Volume 2 delves deeper into Mark Twain’s life, uncovering the many roles he played in his private and public worlds. Filled with his characteristic blend of humor and ire, the narrative ranges effortlessly across the contemporary scene. He shares his views on writing and speaking, his preoccupation with money, and his contempt for the politics and politicians of his day. Affectionate and scathing by turns, his intractable curiosity and candor are everywhere on view. Editors: Benjamin Griffin and Harriet E. Smith Associate Editors: Victor Fischer, Michael B. Frank, Sharon K. Goetz and Leslie Diane Myrick

Mark Twain's final and uncensored masterpiece, presented in three volumes, is a landmark publication in American literature. “Twain will begin to seem strange again, alluring and still astonishing . . . in ways that still resonate with us.”—New York Times “His crystalline humor and expansive range are a continuous source of delight and awe.”—Los Angeles Times Book Review "I've struck it!" Mark Twain wrote in a 1904 letter to a friend. "And I will give it away—to you. You will never know how much enjoyment you have lost until you get to dictating your autobiography." Thus, after dozens of false starts and hundreds of pages, Twain embarked on his "Final (and Right) Plan" for telling the story of his life. His innovative notion—to "talk only about the thing which interests you for the moment"—meant that his thoughts could range freely. The strict instruction that many of these texts remain unpublished for 100 years meant that when they came out, he would be "dead, and unaware, and indifferent," and that he was therefore free to speak his "whole frank mind." The year 2010 marks the 100th anniversary of Twain's death. In celebration of this important milestone and in honor of the cherished tradition of publishing Mark Twain's works, UC Press is proud to offer for the first time Mark Twain's uncensored autobiography in its entirety and exactly as he left it. This major literary event brings to readers, admirers, and scholars the first of three volumes and presents Mark Twain's authentic and unsuppressed voice, brimming with humor, ideas, and opinions, and speaking clearly from the grave as he intended. Editors: Harriet E. Smith, Benjamin Griffin, Victor Fischer, Michael B. Frank, Sharon K. Goetz, Leslie Myrick