(24 lectures, 30 minutes/lecture) Course No. 2567 Taught by Stephen Railton
Samuel Clemens, the man known to history as "Mark Twain," was more than one of America's greatest writers. He was our first true celebrity, one of the most photographed faces of the 19th and 20th centuries. This course explores Twain's dual identities as one of our classical authors and as an almost mythical presence in our nation's cultural life.
Hailed by writers and critics alike as one of the most important American novels ever published, Mark Twain's quintessential coming-of-age story "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" gave a distinct voice to American literature. As the respected critics in this volume attest, Twain's novel sustains the tests of time and interpretation. This fully updated volume also offers perceptive supplementary materials, such as a chronology and an index, that will come in handy for students writing research papers on this beloved work.
Until now, tracking down information on Mark Twain's complex life and numerous works was arduous at best. The Mark Twain A to Z has virtually eliminated such time-consuming tasks. With over 1,200 entries and more than 130 illustrations, this remarkable guide includes detailed analyses of the plots, characters, and places in Mark Twain's writings, as well as thousands of precise chapter citations and cross-references to related subjects. Also included are biographies of people whom he knew and descriptions of events that affected his life, places that he visited, steamboats he piloted, newspapers and journals for which he wrote, and more.
