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Memoir, travel, history, humor, fiction served up in deceptively folksy prose (which is in fact as sharp as it is funny) to evoke the 19th century Mississippi in all its glory and heartbreak. Admittedly there were a few too many tall tales for my taste or they went on too long, yarns not being my favorite reading, but I concede their necessity in creating the larger truth here. Evocative and endlessly gripping and droll.

There is Shakespeare and Mark Twain and that defines the pinnacle of how to manipulate the English language. The wit and humor Twain is famous for is here in all its glory. As a collection of stories and observances centered on the river, it doesn't have the depth of some of his other novels, it was an enjoyable read which left me with a constant grin and a bunch of belly laughs.
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