Mark Twain: The Man and His Adventures - Hardcover

Lyttle, Richard B.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0689317123 ISBN 13: 9780689317125

Publisher: Atheneum, 1994

Synopsis

A lively, illustrated biography of the great American author and humorist traces the colorful life of Samuel Clemens from his youth along the Mississippi River, through his work as a riverboat captain and journalist, to his popular writing career.

About this title

Reviews

Grade 7 Up?This colorful biography traces Twain's life from his birth in frontier Missouri through his many adventurous pursuits and triumphs as a writer and lecturer. Lyttle does not focus on the humorist's literary career; rather, he integrates it into his portrait, introducing Twain's major works chronologically. Excerpts from his books, journals, letters, and reminiscences give insight into the man as a satirist and philosopher. The narrative is smoothly written and richly detailed. Average-quality black-and-white photographs and reproductions are scattered throughout. A longer and more sophisticated account than Jim Hargrove's Mark Twain (Childrens, 1984), this volume offers an excellent overview of the subject's life and times.?Pat Katka, San Diego Public Library
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 7-12. Long and detailed, this biography of Mark Twain focuses on the events of his life in great particularity, sometimes on a day-by-day basis. The style is pleasant and easy as Lyttle recounts the facts about Twain's childhood, family life, travels, speeches, publications, and glowing reputation. There's no general discussion of the man and the writer other than the odd comment among the chronological details. Most readers would like more about the famous books: not deep literary criticism, but some talk about the stories that matter to us now. It's the many witty quotes from Twain that bring vitality to the account--with their casual combination of cynicism and humanity, his words demand to be read aloud. No wonder he's still quoted everywhere. Hazel Rochman

Edition details

• Publisher: Atheneum
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0689317123
• ISBN 13: 9780689317125
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 192