Reprint of the original, first published in 1871.

Like his other writings, Mark Twain's letters attest that he was not the greatest of all humorists, but that he did have an amazing gift of depicting the average American, and what is more, that he could do it sympathetically and from the inside of the house, not ironically through the window as Thackeray depicted the absurdities of his contemporaries. The letters show, also, what a storybook life he led. Born obscurely in a western town without advantages, half-educated as a typesetter for a country newspaper, a runaway, a soldier "riding a small yellow mule" to the aid of the Confederacy, a runaway again, a mining prospector familiar with mountain gambling-saloons, a news reporter, he at last acquired some fame with his "Jumping Frog." His reputation travelled east and he became a lecturer and special correspondent. Then, of a sudden, he made himself conspicuous to the entire country with his "Innocents Abroad." He became a mighty traveller. He was feasted by kings, decorated by universities, and honored everywhere. From Hartford all around the earth and back, he was a leading citizen of the world. The ingenious authors of the most shocking fiction could not invent plots swifter or more romantic. This editions contains the letters from the year 1853 all through 1910.

Mark Twain's 'The Complete Letters of Mark Twain' offers a fascinating glimpse into the personal life and thoughts of one of America's most iconic literary figures. Written in Twain's signature witty and engaging style, this collection of letters provides insight into his relationships, humor, and observations on society during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Twain's masterful storytelling is evident even in his personal correspondence, making this book a must-read for fans of his work and anyone interested in American literature of the time. Mark Twain, born Samuel Clemens, was a prolific writer known for his novels such as 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' and 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.' His keen wit and satirical commentary on the American experience made him a prominent figure in the literary world. It is no surprise that his letters are just as captivating and insightful as his published works, offering a deeper understanding of the man behind the legend. I highly recommend 'The Complete Letters of Mark Twain' to readers who are interested in gaining a more intimate understanding of this celebrated author. The collection provides a unique perspective on Twain's life and times, showcasing his brilliance in a new and compelling light.

"You ought to see Livy & me, now-a-days—you never saw such a serenely satisfied couple of doves in all your life. I spent Jan 1, 2, 3 & 5 there, & left at 8 last night. With my vile temper & variable moods, it seems an incomprehensible miracle that we two have been right together in the same house half the time for a year & a half, & yet have never had a cross word, or a lover's 'tiff,' or a pouting spell, or a misunderstanding, or the faintest shadow of a jealous suspicion. Now isn't that absolutely wonderful? Could I have had such an experience with any other girl on earth? I am perfectly certain I could not. . . . We are to be married on Feb. 2d." So begins Volume 4 of the letters, with Samuel Clemens anticipating his wedding to Olivia L. Langdon. The 338 letters in this volume document the first two years of a loving marriage that would last more than thirty years. They recount, in Clemens's own inimitable voice, a tumultuous time: a growing international fame, the birth of a sickly first child, and the near-fatal illness of his wife. At the beginning of 1870, fresh from the success of The Innocents Abroad, Clemens is on "the long agony" of a lecture tour and planning to settle in Buffalo as editor of the Express. By the end of 1871, he has moved to Hartford and is again on tour, anticipating the publication of Roughing It and the birth of his second child. The intervening letters show Clemens bursting with literary ideas, business schemes, and inventions, and they show him erupting with frustration, anger, and grief, but more often with dazzling humor and surprising self-revelation. In addition to Roughing It, Clemens wrote some enduringly popular short pieces during this period, but he saved some of his best writing for private letters, many of which are published here for the first time.

Purchase one of 1st World Library's Classic Books and help support our free internet library of downloadable eBooks. 1st World Library-Literary Society is a non-profit educational organization. Visit us online at www.1stWorldLibrary.ORG - - When Clemens had been platforming with Cable and returned to Hartford for his Christmas vacation, the Warner and Clemens families had joined in preparing for him a surprise performance of The Prince and the Pauper. The Clemens household was always given to theatricals, and it was about this time that scenery and a stage were prepared - mainly by the sculptor Gerhardt - for these home performances, after which productions of The Prince and the Pauper were given with considerable regularity to audiences consisting of parents and invited friends. The subject is a fascinating one, but it has been dwelt upon elsewhere. - [In Mark Twain: A Biography, chaps. cliff and clx.] - We get a glimpse of one of these occasions as well as of Mark Twain's financial progress in the next brief note. MY DEAR HOWELLS, - The date set for the Prince and Pauper play is ten days hence - Jan. 13. I hope you and Pilla can take a train that arrives here during the day; the one that leaves Boston toward the end of the afternoon would be a trifle late; the performance would have already begun when you reached the house.

The letters of Mark Twain are peculiarly of the revealing sort. He was a man of few restraints and of no affectations. In his correspondence, as in his talk, he spoke what was in his mind, untrammeled by literary conventions.