This provocative, definitive biography explores the revealing and resonant contradictions between the true character of Samuel Clemens and his self-created alter ego, Mark Twain. Richly detailed and filled with new information from primary sources, Inventing Mark Twain traces an extraordinary life that led from Mississippi steamboats to the California goldfields to cultural immortality as America's national philosopher.

Depicts the personal life, literary career, and creative habits of Mark Twain and examines the development of his writing style.

Presents a narrative history of the United States from 1890 to 1910, exploring such major themes as nationalism, racism, industrialization, and imperialism as reflected in the actions and writings of the era's two most famous figures.

Compares humorous stories Twain told publicly and privately with those wrongly attributed to him, and discusses his development as a speaker.

This is the first comprehensive collection of correspondence between Mark Twain and his editor William D. Howells. The publishing practices and critical attitudes of the period are variously documented here as it showcases the Gilded Age in American writing.

Did famous author Mark Twain's only surviving child, Clara, and her daughter, Nina Clemens Gabrilowitsch, take a life-long secret to their graves? After extensive research, and using techniques from genetic genealogy, The Twain Shall Meet authors believe the answer is a resounding "yes." If you thought you knew everything about Samuel Langhorne Clemens' family, this book will be a page-turning eye opener. This work of nonfiction takes the reader on a mesmerizing and heartwarming journey into the tangled universe of mother-daughter relationships as co-authors Susan Bailey and genealogist and historic researcher Deborah Gosselin seek to uncover the identity of Bailey's mother-a quest that leads them straight into the heart of Clara's and Nina's world.