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The Singular Mark Twain: A Biography
by
Fred Kaplan
In this magisterial full-scale biography of America’s greatest storyteller and satirist, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award finalist Fred Kaplan refashions our image of Mark Twain and etches a vibrant portrait of a singular personality who created some of the most memorable literary characters of our culture. He coined the phrase “the Gilded Age,” spoke out vigorously ...more
Paperback, 768 pages
Published
April 21st 2010
by Anchor
(first published 2003)
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This is a book assigned for my Teaching American History Through Biography class. I made it 1/2 way through, which was impressive given the size and how dry the writing way. I really wanted to read about Mark Twain going to Elmira and meeting/marrying Livvy since I went to Elmira College, which Livvy went to as well. Once I got there, I had a hard time motivating myself to continue. I did learn some things about him that I never knew before, some of which made me have a little less respect f...more
Twain, like many famous folks, found his voice and fame at the same time, and was as surprised as anyone, apparently.
At the end of this book, if you have any questions about Mark Twain that aren't answered, it would be surprising, too. Kaplan hits it all, and the detail he brings to the mundane aspects of Twain's existence fills out the character nicely. He's not just the 1860's equivalent of Garrison Kielor, he's pretty much the embodiment of 19th century America, all in one littl...more
At the end of this book, if you have any questions about Mark Twain that aren't answered, it would be surprising, too. Kaplan hits it all, and the detail he brings to the mundane aspects of Twain's existence fills out the character nicely. He's not just the 1860's equivalent of Garrison Kielor, he's pretty much the embodiment of 19th century America, all in one littl...more
i couldn't finish this. this is a hard fact to announce. it wasn't that the book was horrible, i just realized that once twain got famous i just didn't have much interest anymore. or maybe i was just interested in comparing his autobiographical works to his real life, and once he became a novelist i wanted to leave well enough alone. i also just wasn't that into this author's style, though it would be difficult to point out one thing and say, "there, that, that annoyed me."
A decent biography of one of the most important writers in American History. Kaplan does a great job integrating the two personas...Samuel Clemens and Mark Twain...not an easy task since they each have a power of perso nality such as to make them individual characters. Twain is a fascinating guy with some real smarts and some truly real blind spots. Kaplan's bio gives you everything you need to apprecaite the man, everything you need to understand the writer.
fascinating history because he knew so many people in his lifetime and quite the adventurer. Writing is far more difficult than it needs to be but it is worth it when you get through it.
marvin
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
people of sharp wit and loose morals
Shelves:
bio
It is refreshing to know that Mark Twain was as much if not more of a screw up than I. It gives me hope.
I also suggest Mark Twain Tonight! a one man performance by Hal Halbrook. Available on DVD.
I also suggest Mark Twain Tonight! a one man performance by Hal Halbrook. Available on DVD.
One of the better recent Twain biographies. Fresh twists on familiar periods in the author's life.
A fucking tough read. good and insightful. written in a very victorian language.
Reached page 112 but had to return to the library. Will return to later.
So far so good. I would say Mark Twain is my favorite American.
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“As became a young sinner, Sam [Mark Twain] had a special interest in Satan. He asked his Sunday school teacher questions about Eve in the garden, wondering "if he had ever heard of another woman who, being approached by a serpent, would not excuse herself and break for the nearest timber." Twain recalled, "He did not answer my question, but rebuked me for inquiring into matters above my age and comprehension.”
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