Mark Twain's life--one of the richest and raciest America has known--is delightfully portrayed in this mosaic of words and more than 600 pictures that capture the career of one of America's most colorful personalities. The words are Twain's own, taken from his writings--not only the autobiography but also his letters, notebooks, newspaper reporting, sketches, travel pieces, and fiction. The illustrations provide the perfect counterpoint to Twain's text. Presented in the hundreds of photos, prints, drawings, cartoons, and paintings is Twain himself, from the apprentice in his printer's cap to the dying world-famous figure finishing his last voyage in a wheelchair. Mark Twain Himself: A Pictorial Biography will not only inform and entertain the casual reader but will provide a valuable resource to scholars and teachers of Twain as well.

Everyone knows the story of the raft on the Mississippi and that ol' whitewashed fence, but now it’s time for youngins everywhere to get right acquainted with the man behind the pen. Mr. Mark Twain! An interesting character, he was...even if he did sometimes get all gussied up in linen suits and even if he did make it rich and live in a house with so many tiers and gazebos that it looked like a weddin’ cake. All that’s a little too proper and hog tied for our narrator, Huckleberry Finn, but no one is more right for the job of telling this picture book biography than Huck himself. (We’re so glad he would oblige.) And, he’ll tell you one thing—that Mr. Twain was a piece a work! Famous for his sense of humor and saying exactly what’s on his mind, a real satirist he was—perhaps America’s greatest. Ever. True to Huck’s voice, this picture book biography is a river boat ride into the life of a real American treasure.

"Much has been written about Mark Twain's social and political attitudes, but Mark Twain: Social Philosopher is the most comprehensive study of the subject that has been made. Mr. Budd's treatment is thorough and detailed, supported by illuminating analysis and plentiful documentation. He presents his material well in a forthright, readable style that moves at a springy pace agreeably free from academic heavy-footedness." --Indiana Magazine of History "Louis J. Budd performs the service of tracing the growth of Twain's social and political convictions and thus showing his relationship to the age in which he lived. . . . Based upon extensive research in newspapers of the day, the personal letters, and other little-known material, as well as intensive analysis of the most relevant works by Twain, Budd's careful and balanced study is an important contribution."--Modern Fiction Newsletter "Budd is one of those rare and highly-to-be-prized people who consistently say good things in a graceful way. Writing about Mark Twain in a fashion that would not make Mark Twain swear if he read the result is a test not often passed. Professor Budd passes it with flying colors."--Mississippi Quarterly "Well written, vital, filled with a sharpness and humor reminiscent of Twain himself, [Mark Twain: Social Philosopher] is a penetrating and sustained analysis of Twain's development as a social critic, and shows his interest in the social issues of his day. It is a model of good criticism, honest analysis, and fine writing." --American Writers in Rebellion "Anyone who wants to read Mark Twain against the changing background of his time will turn with gratitude to Mr. Budd's patient, unpretentious, and revealing book."--Virginia Quarterly 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

Faced with failing health and financial ruin, the Civil War's greatest general and former president wrote his personal memoirs to secure his family's future - and won himself a unique place in American letters. Devoted almost entirely to his life as a soldier, Grant's Memoirs traces the trajectory of his extraordinary career - from West Point cadet to general-in-chief of all Union armies. For their directness and clarity, his writings on war are without rival in American literature, and his autobiography deserves a place among the very best in the genre.

In Its Distrust Of Too Much Civilisation And Its Concern With The Way Language Turns Dreamy And Corrupt When Divorced From The Real Condition Of Life, Huckleberry Finn Echoed Some Of The Central Concerns Of Life Today. Like All Great Works Of Fiction Where No Story Is Told As If It Is The Only One, Huck Finn Is Open-Ended, The 'Unfinished Story' Where The True Meaning Is Left To The Conscience And Imagination Of Each Reader.