Sunday, December 26, 2010

Mark Twain

The first volume of Mark Twain's three volume autobiography -- published one hundred years after his death in 1910 -- is a best seller.   Would you have guessed that a dense 760 page autobiography by a man who died a century ago would be #3 on the New York Times' Hardcover Nonfiction bestseller list?  Not me.

Mark Twain was a long-time resident of Hartford.

Yesterday's Hartford Courant ran a good story about the Twain autobiography, which the history- or literary-minded among you might enjoy.

12 comments:

cieldequimper said...

Nice bust, I didn't know that Twain resided in Connecticut, nor did I know that his autobiography was published now. I might just add it to my to-read list for 2011!

Leeds daily photo said...

I guess it is because he is an American literary icon and a good book is a good book whenever it might have been written.
Have a Merry Christmas. Paul at Leeds daily photo

Kate said...

I've read many favorable review about this book, and I've already on the library list to get it. Am anxious to read it. Your photo of him is classic!

Sharon said...

I had no idea. I'll have to check it out. I grew up in Quincy Illinois, just across the river from Hannibal Missouri! Mark Twain was a big part of life growing up in that part of the country.

Birdman said...

Twain's a favorite. I have read quite a few biographies. I enjoyed the quotes in the article. I'll have to get my hands on a copy.

Randy said...

Very interesting indeed. Very nice bust too. Enjoy your Sunday.

Lowell said...

Hartford has several claims to fame...this is a good one! Samuel Clemens was a fascinating man in so many ways. From what I have read of him and from him, he's my kind of guy!

Re your comment on Ocala DP: Thank you. What I did was tell her that my friend, Jack, from Hartford, Connecticut, suggested she not face her subjects in the sun. She told me...oh, never mind...

Hope you had a merry one!

joo said...

I really like his works! I also like his bust:)

Michelle said...

I am already considering this for my kindle. I love Mr. Twain and my favorite book is actually Pudd'nhead Wilson.

Leif Hagen said...

Poor Mark - he suffered from a large tumor of the upper arm. The surgery was only partially successful!
Thanks for following my EAGAN daily photo

Janet said...

I have a copy of a 1959 autobiography that "includes chapters now published for the first time. How is the new one different?

Unknown said...

Ok. So this interests me a lot! It's just the kind of thing that floats my boat, in fact! If memory serves (it is less reliable these days) Mark Twain did not actually sit down to write this autobiography but decided to dictate it to someone. And now I must find out more about this because I think the person to whom he dictated is a noteable one. In any event, I have a gift certificate to B&N and this is probably what I will use it to buy.