Books with title Minn of the Mississippi

The Mississippi River and Mark Twain are practically synonymous in American culture. Known as “America’s river,” the popularity of Twain’s steamboat and steamboat pilots the on the ever-changing Mississippi has endured prominently over the years. Samuel Clemens became a licensed river pilot at the age of 24 under the apprenticeship of Horace Bixby, pilot of the Paul Jones. His name, Mark Twain, was derived from the river pilot term describing safe navigating conditions or “mark two fathoms” thus shortened to mark twain by the leadsmen whose job it was to monitor the water’s depth and report it to the pilot. Although Mark Twain used his childhood experiences growing up along the Mississippi in numerous works, nowhere is the river and pilot’s life more thoroughly described than in Life on the Mississippi. This edition contains 54 illustrations form the 1883 Montral Dawson Edition.

"The Mississippi Territory has held a unique and fascinating place in history, dating one hundred fifty years before the Revolutionary War. It had one of the earliest settlements in America. Norsemen likely visited the Mississippi Territory as early as 1000 A.D. The Mississippi Territory was raw frontier, sparked with the excitement of fortunes to be made in rich lands and business opportunities. These advantages induced many to become citizens of the old Southwest Territory. Also, many passed through the territory on their way westward to other new frontiers of excitement. France, Spain, and England fought over the riches the new territory had to offer, and each country in its time controlled the area and left the mark of its culture on the people. Large farming and business empires were created in the territory, and some people became extremely rich. Before the Civil War, Mississippi, with a population of only 791,305 people, was numbered the fourth wealthiest state of the United States. The Mississippi Territory was a cotton kingdom where fortunes were made overnight. Gamblers who were attracted to the wealth of the Mississippi appeared, as did terrorists who preyed on travelers on the famous Natchez Trace. Mississippi has throughout the years furnished gallant, indomitable, military leaders, along with great distinguished orators and statesmen whose contributions have been inestimable to the occasions o f which they were a part." -from the Preface This intriguing history takes readers from the days of the early Indian governors through the 1970s.

A river memoir documenting Twain’s early days as an apprentice steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River before the American Civil War. Reminiscing about his happy experiences as a young man under the instruction of an experienced mentor, the autobiographical tale depicts one of the most vivid illustrations of river life. Furthermore, the book captures the author’s nostalgic emotions through his resonant depiction of one of the most notable periods of his life.Twain begins his memoir with a rich historical account of the Mississippi River including its exploration by early explorers, its evolution, and its vastness. He then proceeds to tell of his youthful experiences along the river, and its significant role in his life from early childhood right up to adulthood. Subsequently, the classic focuses on Twain’s time as a cub-pilot on a steamboat and the incidents that occur during his apprenticeship. Never depicting a dull moment, the author mentions various characters and encounters which further enrich the tale as he navigates along the river. Written from a personal point of view, the story offers insight as the audience is exposed to a different angle of river life through an enchanting travel log. He vibrantly describes the beauties of the Mississippi River with its twists, shallows, rapids, turns, and landmarks, consequently bringing life to the river. In the second part of the book, however, Twain describes a different experience on the Mississippi River, conveying the harsh reality of progress as he travels along the river years later. In addition, the book presents opposing images of a bucolic setting not yet altered by the inescapable grasp of industrialization, and the image of the consequences instigated by industrialization and automation. A stunning blend of autobiography, history and tall tales, the book has much to offer to its audience, and also includes humorous appendixes and commentaries.A well-comprised piece of writing, Life on the Mississippi is full of imagery and descriptive language that portrays the beauty of nature, culture, and heritage. Exploring themes such as inevitable change and progress in society, gratification gained from the simplicity of nature, and the deceptiveness of outward appearance, the book is a timeless classic portraying an important part of American history.

A stirring account of America's vanished past... The book that earned Mark Twain his first recognition as a serious writer... Discover the magic of life on the Mississippi. At once a romantic history of a mighty river, an autobiographical account of Mark Twain's early steamboat days, and a storehouse of humorous anecdotes and sketches, Life on the Mississippi is the raw material from which Twain wrote his finest novel: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn .

Differentiated book• It has a historical context with research of the timeLife in the Mississippi is an autobiographical chronicle of Mark Twain's adventures during his training as a steamboat captain when he was twenty-one. The book includes a historical context on the Mississippi River. However, the main focus of the memoirs is Mark Twain's learning for the steamboat pilot Horace Bixby, who paid $ 500 to teach him how to operate a steamboat. Although he hesitates in much of his training, Twain finally lives his childhood dream by obtaining a steamboat pilot's license.In the second half of the book, Twain recounts his past during a steamboat trip from St. Louis to New Orleans. On this trip, Twain is particularly observant of changes in modes of transport and meditates on railways, architectural features and the growth and expansion of large cities.