Collected Tales, Sketches, Speeches, & Essays 1891–1910

Absolutely delightful. The way it is set up allows the reader to see the progress of Twain's writing through six decades, starting from the very beginning in Hannibal.

Very unique and interesting, overall a reccomended read so far.

Of the two collections of Twain's shorter works published by LOA, this is the one I preferred. It presents Twain, in multiple aspects and with many interesting facets of his prose, both published and unpublished. Of most interest to me were his speculative pieces beginning with "Mental Telegraphy" (the source of his often-cited belief that ideas circulate among people telepathically, which accounts for authors publishing similarly plotted and detailed works simultaneously or, more famously, the discovery or formulation of certain scientific laws or phenomena at roughly the same moment in history by scientists who were not in communication with each other and lived in different countries). This strand of his writing also includes the several unpublished fragments of fiction that show a distinct interest in whether a person can tell the difference between waking reality and dream (a theme that was milked for all it was worth a century later by Philip K. Dick). One of these latter story fragments involves the shrinking of a family and a whaling ship for a voyage through a drop of water on a microscope slide (a piece that contains elements both of Lovecraftian horror and of _Fantastic Voyage_ by Isaac Asimov, just to continue the SF tie-ins...). At times these noodlings get a little tedious to read through (as does the 4 iteration of the "jumping frog" story), which is merely a result of the chronological order of Twain's writings as presented in these volumes. Twain's philosophical and religious views also get little repetitive the further one reads in this collection; although works like "What is Man?" and "Letters from the Earth" contain some interesting satirical moments, I was mostly counting the pages until the next selection. This collection contains three important later stories by Twain ("The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg," "The $30,000 Bequest," and the similar "The 1,000,000 Pound Banknote"). Overall Twain's wit and increasing bitterness with politics and religion show throughout the works in this collection and provide a good understanding and context for the life and thought of an aging American writer and humorist at the turn of the last century.

This Library of America book, with its companion volume, is the most comprehensive collection ever published of Mark Twain’s short writings — the incomparable stories, sketches, burlesques, hoaxes, tall tales, speeches, satires, and maxims of America’s greatest humorist. Arranged chronologically and containing many pieces restored to the form in which Twain intended them to appear, the volumes show with unprecedented clarity the literary evolution of Mark Twain over six decades of his career.

This second collection of Twain's shorter works is just as illuminating and hilarious as the first. I particularly enjoyed his various essays and stories focusing on religion, which seemed to increase exponentially towards the end of his life.

Mark Twain is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, authors of American literature, as the long list of his novels, memoirs, and fictionalized travelogues demonstrates. Often overshadowed by these classics are his shorter works, which are equally as reflective of his literary genius. This is well represented by the Library of America’s two-volume collection of his short stories, essays, and speeches, which offer the cream of his enormous literary output. Whereas the first volume collects writings from Twain’s early years, the second volume provides a selection from the last two decades of his life, when he was a well-established literary figure with an international reputation.

This gave Twain a platform which he used to offer sharp commentary on a variety of events. This is reflected in many of the works selected for this volume, from his famous “The War Prayer” to lesser-known works such as “King Leopold’s Soliloquy” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic (Brought Down to Date)”. These reflect the antiwar and anti-imperialist concerns of the era, when Twain found himself a citizen of a nation embracing an imperial era to which he greatly objected. It was of a piece with his general skepticism towards governments and the people they represented, which when expressed in works such as “As Regards Patriotism,” “Christian Citizenship,” and “The United States of Lyncherdom,” leave the impression of Twain as a curmudgeonly and misanthropic individual in his old age, a point underscored with the often savage attacks against organized religion in “Christian Science and the Book of Mrs Eddy” and “Letters from the Earth,” among others.

Yet even amongst these essays are stories marked by hope and optimism. It was during this period that he wrote some of his greatest short stories, such as “The £1,000,000 Note” and “The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg,” which contain with them hope for the possibilities within them. When combined with the increasingly reflective tone of such writings as “Seventieth Birthday Dinner Speech” and “What is Man?”, it offers a sense of someone who was not bitter or cynical in general, but one who possessed wisdom born of experience. It’s a tribute to Louis Budd’s skills as an editor that he managed to captures so many facets of Twain’s complex personality in his selection of these writings, which are ones that will be enjoyed for reading or sampling by any fan of timelessly humorous and insightful writing.

Just read "A Dog's Tale," short story from mark Twain. The Art of Racing in the Rain with more clever and quirky Twainish details. Moving story, more of a story about Humanity than a dog.

I am re-reading this book. I especially like The War Prayer, which was pointed out to me by a friend.

Much of this was written as Twain dealt with several family illnesses and untimely deaths, financial ruin and his own health problems. There is a bleakness throughout all these materials. But there was a bitterness in Twain’s early writing that lurked underneath, just below the surface. In these writings it takes center stage. I don’t know if that’s the reason, but the pieces I’ve read so far are not as good.

Perhaps he needed the money and needed to write quickly. Some pieces feel like that. Overall, however, there is not enough of the Twain sly wit and humor to raise these above one man’s disillusioned grumblings (regardless of their truth). I’ve always said that humor is the best way to present the stark realities of life and death. We need lots and lots of humor.

The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg -- *** This is an amusing story about the presumptions and eventual downfall of a small town elite. While it is an entertaining story, I felt that it wasn't written particularly well. It was almost like a rough draft that was never revised. Of course, a rough draft by Twain is better than most people could do after many revisions. However, it just seemed rather plainly written with little flair or detail (01/12)

King Leopold’s Soliloquy – ** The Belgian Congo was one of the greatest sins against humanity (and there have been many). Twain rightfully skewers the Belgian king and the other nations that turned a blind eye to his cruelty and inhumanity. Although the cause was just and this is a great example of activist journalism, it isn’t great literature. The long series of denials (re. admissions) of King Leopold get rather tiresome. There’s not enough of Twain’s black wit to make it more than a historical piece. (09/14)

What Is Man? – ** This is a strange philosophical dialogue that suffers from being written about 60 years too early. Humor aside, much of Twain’s dark opinion is turned upside down (but made no less depressing) by evolutionary psychology and the discovery of genetics as the driver of natural selection. We don’t do what we do to satisfy our ‘inner spirit,’ we do it to advance our genetic interests. But Twain didn’t know that. I also find the Randian/libertarian “everything is a selfish act” somewhat disturbing. I’m sure Twain was not a libertarian and I’d love to hear him take them apart. Unfortunately, large parts of this feed their fantasies. (09/14)

Letters from the Earth – **** This incomplete story, published after Twain’s death, is a very amusing critique of the Bible under the guise of letters from Satan to Gabriel and Michael. Twain’s bitter, irreverent wit is at its best. But it is an easy target. (09/14)

The Turning Point of My Life – **** This is a much more entertaining and interesting portrait of Twain’s ideas expressed in “What Is Man?” Twain spends the article explaining that there is no turning point, but many turning points. And a man’s life is the culmination of his circumstances and his temperament – he is more of a passenger than a driver in the course of his success (or failure). The article is full of Twain’s witty observations about his life. (09/14)

More Maxims of Mark – *** Twain was a quote machine and this is but the smallest selection of his acerbic wit. These are not inspirational quotes or uplifting truths, but instead one-liners, quips, barbs and bitter truths. They all make for some entertaining reading. I’ll leave you with one:

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society.
(09/14)