Other editions of book Life on the Mississippi

Life on the Mississippi (1883) is a memoir by Mark Twain of his days as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River before the American Civil War, and also a travel book, recounting his trip along the Mississippi from St. Louis to New Orleans many years after the War. The book begins with a brief history of the river as reported by Europeans and Americans, beginning with the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto in 1542. It continues with anecdotes of Twain's training as a steamboat pilot, as the 'cub' of an experienced pilot. He describes, with great affection, the science of navigating the ever-changing Mississippi River in a section that was first published in 1876, entitled "Old Times on the Mississippi".

Life on the Mississippi is a memoir by Mark Twain detailing his days as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River before and after the American Civil War. The book begins with a brief history of the river. It continues with anecdotes of Twain's training as a steamboat pilot, as the 'cub' of an experienced pilot. He describes, with great affection, the science of navigating the ever-changing Mississippi River. In the second half, the book describes Twain's return, many years later, to travel on a steamboat from St. Louis to New Orleans. He describes the competition from railroads, the new, large cities, and his observations on greed, gullibility, tragedy, and bad architecture...

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.

The world and the books are so accustomed to use, and over-use, the word 'new' in connection with our country, that we early get and permanently retain the impression that there is nothing old about it. We do of course know that there are several comparatively old dates in American history, but the mere figures convey to our minds no just idea, no distinct realization, of the stretch of time which they represent. To say that De Soto, the first white man who ever saw the Mississippi River, saw it in 1542, is a remark which states a fact without interpreting it: it is something like giving the dimensions of a sunset by astronomical measurements, and cataloguing the colors by their scientific names;—as a result, you get the bald fact of the sunset, but you don't see the sunset. It would have been better to paint a picture of it.

This is the Annotated version of the original Book. This is the Summarized Version of the Original Novel. This Novel Book consists of 76500 words approximately which consists of 50% to 55% of the total book. The brief description of the book is written as follows:-Life on the Mississippi (1883) is a memoir by Mark Twain of his days as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River before the American Civil War. It is also a travel book, recounting his trip along the Mississippi River from St. Louis to New Orleans many years after the war.The book begins with a brief history of the river as reported by Europeans and Americans, beginning with the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto in 1542. It continues with anecdotes of Twain's training as a steamboat pilot, as the 'cub' (apprentice) of an experienced pilot, Horace E. Bixby. He describes, with great affection, the science of navigating the ever-changing Mississippi River in a section that was first published in 1876, entitled "Old Times on the Mississippi". Although Twain was actually 21 when he began his training, he uses artistic license to make himself seem somewhat younger, referring to himself as a "fledgling" and a "boy" who "ran away from home" to seek his fortune on the river and playing up his own callowness and naïveté.In the second half, Twain narrates his trip many years later on a steamboat from St. Louis to New Orleans. He describes the competition from railroads, and the new, large cities, and adds his observations on greed, gullibility, tragedy, and bad architecture. He also tells some stories that are most likely tall tales.About Twain:Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 — April 21, 1910), better known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American humorist, satirist, writer, and lecturer. Twain is most noted for his novels Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which has since been called the Great American Novel, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. He is also known for his quotations. During his lifetime, Clemens became a friend to presidents, artists, leading industrialists, and European royalty. Clemens enjoyed immense public popularity, and his keen wit and incisive satire earned him praise from both critics and peers. American author William Faulkner called Twain "the father of American literature." Source: WikipediaOther Great Books by the Same Author•The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885)•The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876)•Roughing It (1872)•A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1889)•The $30,000 Bequest and other short stories (1906)•Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc (1896)•Tom Sawyer, Detective (1896)•The War Prayer (1916)•Tom Sawyer Abroad (1894)•The Jumping Frog (1865)

In Mark Twain's Life on the Mississippi, the author describes many different aspects of the river and its life in the nineteenth century. Overall, Twain writes about the Mississippi as a living, breathing being - it is by far the most important character in the story, and functions as a character throughout the narrative.Half history and half memoir, Life on the Mississippi begins with an historical examination of the river. Twain writes of its early discovery by settlers and how, for many years, the river was ignored as anything but a simple natural fact: it was hardly used, and very few pilgrims came to live along it. However, it became an important feature as America expanded westward, and was of vital importance in trade and travel by the time Twain was born.After covering the history of the river, Twain focuses on his personal history with the river. Growing up in Missouri, the river played an important role in his childhood, as he dreamed of becoming a steamboat pilot. Eventually, he achieved this role: a large part of the book deals with his training in this area, under the tutelage of an experienced pilot named Bixby. Twain's stories vary throughout the narrative: at certain points, he is humorous, particularly when he's speaking about his own failings in the early days; at others, he is technical, describing the various features of the river and the difficulties they presented for pilots in the early days; at other points, he describes tragic occurrences, such as the death of his brother.Twain then marks the passage of twenty-one years when he was not on the river with a single page, then transitioning back to the river itself. However, this time he writes of a recent journey he took down the river, incognito, more than two decades after he worked as a pilot himself on the Mississippi. Here, he searches for different towns he knew, speaks to pilots old and new, and looks at the changes that have taken place on the river since he last saw it.Throughout the book, Twain relies not only on his own recollections and observations but also on a variety of sources: from his own early drafts of "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" to the memoirs of previous travellers, such as an English writer named Mrs. Trollope. By doing so, he creates a textured narrative about an important, changing geographical feature that has played a complex role in American history.

Life on the Mississippi is a memoir by Mark Twain detailing his days as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River before and after the American Civil War. The book begins with a brief history of the river. It continues with anecdotes of Twain's training as a steamboat pilot, as the 'cub' of an experienced pilot. He describes, with great affection, the science of navigating the ever-changing Mississippi River. In the second half, the book describes Twain's return, many years later, to travel on a steamboat from St. Louis to New Orleans. He describes the competition from railroads, the new, large cities, and his observations on greed, gullibility, tragedy, and bad architecture. He also tells some stories that are most likely tall tales. Simultaneously published in 1883 in the U.S. and in England, it is said to be the first book composed on a typewriter. (Source: Wikipedia)

Life on the Mississippi is a journal by Mark Twain enumerating his days as a steamer pilot on the Mississippi River when the American Civil War. The book starts with a concise history of the waterway. It proceeds with accounts of Twain's preparation as a steamer pilot, as the 'offspring' of an accomplished pilot. He depicts, with extraordinary love, the study of exploring the ever-changing Mississippi River. In the subsequent a large portion of, the book depicts Twain's arrival, numerous years after the fact, to go on a steamer from St. Louis to New Orleans. He portrays the opposition from railways, the new, huge urban areas, and his perceptions on covetousness, naïveté, catastrophe, and awful design. He additionally reveals to certain accounts that are in all probability fanciful stories. At the same time distributed in 1883 in the U.S. furthermore, in England, it is supposed to be the primary book created on a typewriter.

Life on the Mississippi is a memoir by Mark Twain detailing his days as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River before and after the American Civil War. The book begins with a brief history of the river. It continues with anecdotes of Twain's training as a steamboat pilot, as the 'cub' of an experienced pilot. He describes, with great affection, the science of navigating the ever-changing Mississippi River. In the second half, the book describes Twain's return, many years later, to travel on a steamboat from St. Louis to New Orleans. He describes the competition from railroads, the new, large cities, and his observations on greed, gullibility, tragedy, and bad architecture. He also tells some stories that are most likely tall tales. Simultaneously published in 1883 in the U.S. and in England, it is said to be the first book composed on a typewriter.

Life on the Mississippi (1883) is a memoir by Mark Twain of his days as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi Riverbefore the American Civil War, and also a travel book, recounting his trip along the Mississippi River from St. Louis to New Orleans many years after the War.This book also includes the following:1. Illustrated author biography2. Author bibliography3. Author facts