Twain wrote two major travel
volumes: Innocents Abroad and A Tramp Abroad; the above lessons come
from the latter work, which approached the world and travel writing from a
different perspective from his former travel writing. The brilliance and humor
of A Tramp Abroad stems from his
approach as an egotistical American visiting all the longed for places in the
world and not being impressed. However, his volume, Innocents Abroad took a much more contemplative look at the foreign
countries he visited.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Mark Twain's Confrontation with the Sublime
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Mark Twain's War Days
Mark Twain fought in the Civil War—sort
of. In “The Private History of the Campaign that Failed” Twain recounts his
days in the war. Days in this sense is not figurative as his involvement in the
war only lasted a few weeks before the militia he was part of disbanded. His
experience during these few weeks was rather uneventful until something
happened that gave Mark Twain his fill of war.
When the Civil War broke out Mark Twain was
in Missouri, visiting the city of Hannibal in Marion County, where he spent his
childhood. When the Union began to enter Missouri the Governor called for
militia groups to fight back. Twain banded together with several other men of
Marion County to form the Marion Rangers.
This group of soldiers wandered around
the neighboring counties staying in the homes of farmers, barns, and campsites.
They pack up and move on at the very rumor of approaching Union soldiers.
Twain was a lieutenant in this militia
but since no one would take orders from him, his rank was rendered moot. It
begs the question what’s the point of a leader without followers. Is someone
still a leader if no one follows them? I wonder if Twain considered that
question at the time. If he did, he didn’t have much time because his military
career was cut short.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Mark Twain on Fenimore Cooper’s Offences to Literature
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