Life On The Mississippi:
Mark Twain
(, June 27, 2019)
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.This book contains these Chapters ;Chapter 1 - The River And Its HistoryChapter 2 - The River And Its ExplorersChapter 3 - Frescoes From The PastChapter 4 - The Boys' AmbitionChapter 5 - I Want To Be A Cub-pilotChapter 6 - A Cub-pilot's ExperienceChapter 7 - A Daring DeedChapter 8 - Perplexing LessonsChapter 9 - Continued PerplexitiesChapter 10 - Completing My EducationChapter 11 - The River RisesChapter 12 - SoundingChapter 13 - A Pilot's NeedsChapter 14 - Rank And Dignity Of PilotingChapter 15 - The Pilots' MonopolyChapter 16 - Racing DaysChapter 17 - Cut-offs And StephenChapter 18 - I Take A Few Extra LessonsChapter 19 - Brown And I Exchange ComplimentsChapter 20 - A CatastropheChapter 21 - A Section In My BiographyChapter 22 - I Return To My MuttonsChapter 23 - Traveling IncognitoChapter 24 - My Incognito Is ExplodedChapter 25 - From Cairo To HickmanChapter 26 - Under FireChapter 27 - Some Imported ArticlesChapter 28 - Uncle Mumford UnloadsChapter 29 - A Few Specimen BricksChapter 30 - Sketches By The WayChapter 31 - A Thumb-print And What Came Of ItChapter 32 - The Disposal Of A BonanzaChapter 33 - Refreshments And EthicsChapter 34 - Tough YarnsChapter 35 - Vicksburg During The TroubleChapter 36 - The Professor's YarnChapter 37 - The End Of The 'Gold Dust'Chapter 38 - The House BeautifulChapter 39 - Manufactures And MiscreantsChapter 40 - Castles And CultureChapter 41 - The Metropolis Of The SouthChapter 42 - Hygiene And SentimentChapter 43 - The Art Of InhumationChapter 44 - City SightsChapter 45 - Southern SportsChapter 46 - Enchantments And EnchantersChapter 47 - Uncle Remus And Mr. CableChapter 48 - Sugar And PostageChapter 49 - Episodes In Pilot LifeChapter 50 - The 'Original Jacobs'Chapter 51 - ReminiscencesChapter 52 - A Burning BrandChapter 53 - My Boyhood's HomeChapter 54 - Past And PresentChapter 55 - A Vendetta And Other ThingsChapter 56 - A Question Of LawChapter 57 - An ArchangelChapter 58 - On The Upper RiverChapter 59 - Legends And SceneryChapter 60 - Speculations And Conclusions