Mark Twain autobiography, 100 years old, debuts Saturday

[unhappycamper]

Mark Twain autobiography, 100 years old, debuts Saturday
By John Holland | Modesto Bee
Posted on Wednesday, October 13, 2010

ANGELS CAMP, Calif. — Mark Twain had a dying wish — that the public not see his complete autobiography for 100 years.

Time's up.

The first volume of the book will be released Saturday in Angels Camp, a tiny town that played a big part in Twain's emergence as a writer. The unveiling by the University of California Press has drawn international attention.

People involved with the book said Twain ordered the century long hold so as not to offend anyone living at the time of his death on April 21, 1910.

"This is his uncensored work that he wanted to hold back for 100 years," said Bob Rogers, an organizer of the Mark Twain Motherlode Festival, where the unveiling will take place. "He really didn't want his family embarrassed or his friends embarrassed."

[zeemike]

1. And I predict it will be an instant best seller.

I know I want to read it.

[unhappycamper]

2. This two volume set is going up next to my Howard Zinn books.

I can't wait to start reading it.

[zeemike]

4. And they will be happy together.

They have some common interests.

[bif]

3. I've heard his wife censored most of his writing

So this should be great.

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. Only $18 on Amazon! Ordering mine now for Saturday delivery.

Though Amazon says it doesn't come out until Nov., it also says it's in stock and one can get delivery tomorrow (Friday). ????

Also says it has a Kindle edition, but that it doesn't have a Kindle edition, and the only review of the book that's there right now is a review from the Kindle edition that Amazon says doesn't exist.

:shrug:

[liberal N proud]

6. I bet there is some great stuff in there.

[unhappycamper]

7. Oh, yes. Sam and Smedley were on the same page:

Twain criticized U.S. intervention abroad, referring to its soldiers as "uniformed assassins" for their suppression of a native revolt in the Philippines.

[billlll]

8. PROGRESSIVE...twain oft so labeled

Any P. Quotes fm him folks?

Economic ones best.

[mistertrickster]

9. Read "To the person sitting in darkness"

For every European killed in the Boxer Rebellion, the Colonial Powers demanded 100 Chinese heads.

The Chinese who were executed didn't have to be guilty of anything other than being of the same nationality as the Boxers.

The government was also fined thousands of taels for each European killed.

Twain summed this up as, "Heads, I win--Taels, you lose."

[PADemD]

10. I just received a copy in the mail.

It was pre-ordered from Amazon, I wasn't expecting delivery until November.

[Adsos Letter]

11. Just ordered it. Thanks for the reminder!

[Adsos Letter]

13. Just received it today! It appears readily available now, without pre-order.

[JitterbugPerfume]

12. I had it on pre-order

and I started reading it a couple of days ago . So far it is fascinating.

[unorthodox]

14. Can't wait to read it.

[lazarus]

15. so I got three copies of this for Xmas

Three! I kept one, returned two to Amazon for credit, and bought the Kindle version, which I'm devouring right now.

Since my favourite Twain works are his autobiographical/diarist style, such as Life on the Mississippi and The Innocents Abroad, this is right in my wheel house, so to speak. Fantastic so far.

[amyrose2712]

16. I am just starting to gather some Twain to read...

I have only read the old standards Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. Would it be better to read some of his previously release works before diving into the new one? Suggestions?

[lazarus]

17. It couldn't hurt

as some of the auto is "notes on..." sort of stuff. I'd definitely read "The Innocents Abroad" and "Life on the Mississippi" and even "Old Times On the Mississippi" to start with. "The Gilded Age" is another good one. I'm currently reading some auto stuff about "The Prince and the Pauper" that makes me wish I had read that recently, too.

But just diving right in would be okay, too.

[amyrose2712]

18. Thanks. nt

[medeak]

19. so any opinions?

thinking of ordering on kindle...