Sucheta Moitra (4 results)

Condition: New. pp. 196.

Condition: New. pp. 196 Index 1st Published.

Hardbound. Condition: As New. New. Contents Foreword. Preface. Introduction The two faces of Mark Twain. 1. Roughing it interplay of the hilarious and the subversive. 2. The adventures of Tom Sawyer brilliant sunshine with an occasional shadow. 3. The prince and the pauper a study in duality. 4. Huckleberry Finn a counterpoised vision. 5. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's court occasional sunshine and the gathering shadow of darkness. 6. Pudd'nhead Wilson a somber Mark Twain. 7. The short stories a variegated spectrum. 8. Understanding Mark Twain through Sam Clemens the author and the person. 9. Conclusion on the darkling plain. Bibliography. The genius and personality of Samuel Langhorne Clements were marked by contrary pulls and that among other reasons made him one of the most controversial figures of his time. He was certainly not the vulgar funny man that Matthew Arnold made him out to be but a very interesting and multi faceted personality who far from writing only for the uncultivated masses addressed some very serious questions that are still central to American life for instance social responsibility versus personal and domestic irresponsibility juvenile innocence versus adult criminality racism as practised by individuals and institutions versus liberal humanism and slavery versus freedom and so on. The present book probes this embedded duality with particular reference to Mark Twain's humor as well as the growing complexity and grimness of his humor with the passing years when he was increasingly swamped by a growing pessimism and despair that was further aggravated by personal disasters including bankruptcy successive catastrophes and bereavements the book traces the gradual progression in his writings from fun and humor towards a bleak pessimism cynicism and humorless satire which is almost Swiftean in its harshness. The book written in lucid style presents a fine scholarly study of Twain's work which is reinforced by a keen perceptive enjoyment of his delightful novels stories and autobiography it will be immensely useful for students scholars teachers as well as general readers of American literature in addition to being a significant contribution to Mark Twain scholarship. 196 pp. …

Condition: New. pp. 196.