Prentice Mulford's Story: Life By Land and Sea

by Prentice Mulford

Prentice Mulford tells his life story from 1956 to 1972. Included are adventures at sea hunting whales and seals, and in the American west prospecting for gold. His riveting accounts of camp life and experiences as a school teacher and minor local politician give depth to his later career as a leading journalist in San Francisco. He was a friend of Mark Twain and Bret Harte, and Mulford's writing rival the best of their works.

194 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1889

About the author

Prentice Mulford was a literary humorist and a co-founder of the New Thought movement.

Reviews

[Anton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah well, it's a satisfying feeling to read this book. I took my own tour of Californy once upon a time, though nothing like Prentice's. I had never heard of Prentice Mulford, though he comes from my home town, but have been interested in the New Thought movement for years on account of my long term participation in a twelve step association. I feel already in my lack of candor regarding the association's exact name to be following the Victorian style of the 19th Century's pomposity and prudery, but that's the way folks were then, particularly folks who wrote. Mark Twain's writing, especially his non-fiction stuff, sounds a little like a man in a white suit puffing a cigar and engaging in public speaking. That's the style Prentice uses. If I find it heart warming it could be that I am old enough, having been born in 1942, to remember many old folks who grew up in the Victorian Age.
I actually knew some of Prentice's relatives. In fact, as a small tyke, I took piano lessons up the street from my house in Amagansett, NY, from a "spinster", named Miss Mulford. I remember her as being grey haired and wearing dated, old fashioned clothes, and living in a typical country home of the day, full of doily covered furniture, the ticking of a Grandfather's clock, the smell of dust on lace curtains and a great deal of quiet, empty space. I don't remember any particular charm, nor any feeling of discomfort, only the slight mystery of her being a spinster.
I remember a boy I grew up with who's father was the Republican leader of our town. His name was Herbert Mulford and his son was either Jr. or The Third; but in either account the man was extremely friendly and well liked, as was the son.
My thoughts on New Thought might be more positive than I should let on at the moment because I am not through learning about that sphere of spiritual thinking and don't want to be labeled a crack-pot; though it might already be too late for that.
My long term plan is to read William James's Varieties of Religious Experience, a book that I at one time had fooled myself into thinking I had read, but on closer self-examination I've had to admit that I have not. True, I bought the book. True, it's been in my library for years. But having recently perused the book, I'm confident I would remember. It is not going to be easy going, even for deep-thinking me. ....I also intend, if I can, to find out if his mother, maiden name Prentice, was related to a Jack Prentice, about whom I write in my aforementioned book, The White Fence.