Life on the Mississippi,
by Mark Twain [pseud.]

Description

Main Author

Twain, Mark, 1835-1910

Related Names

Harper & Brothers

Language(s)

English

Published

New York, Harper & Brothers, 1911.

Edition

Author's national ed.

Subjects

Twain, Mark, > Twain, Mark, / 1835-1910
Twain, Mark, > Twain, Mark, / 1835-1910 > Twain, Mark, / 1835-1910 / Travel > Twain, Mark, / 1835-1910 / Travel / Mississippi River.
Authors, American > Authors, American / 19th century > Authors, American / 19th century / Biography
Pilots and pilotage > Pilots and pilotage / Mississippi River
Steamboats > Steamboats / Mississippi River.
Mississippi River Valley > Mississippi River Valley / Social life and customs
Mississippi River > Mississippi River / Description and travel
Biographies

Summary

Both a memoir and a travel book, Mark Twain recalls his days as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River before the American Civil War, and then many years after, recounts a trip as passenger along the Mississippi River from St. Louis to New Orleans. The book begins with a brief history of the river as reported by Europeans and Americans, beginning with the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto, continues with Twain's anecdotes of his training as a steamboat pilot, as the 'cub' (apprentice) of an experienced pilot, and the science of navigating the ever-changing Mississippi River. On the later trip downriver, despite of improvements in navigation and boat construction, the time of the steamboat is passing. There is competition from railroads, and as he describes new, large cities, and he adds observations on greed, gullibility, tragedy, and bad architecture.

Physical Description

526 p. illus. 21 cm.

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