When the Civil War halted steamboat travel on the Mississippi River in 1861, an unemployed riverboat pilot named Samuel Clemens enlisted in the Missouri militia. After two weeks of service, Clemens abandoned his post and fled westward to begin a writing career -- a turn of events that precipitated the rise to fame of the man who would become known as Mark Twain. The circumstances surrounding his departure are unclear; some view Twain as a deserter, while others call into question the nature of his commitment from the beginning. Twain defended himself in speeches and in print, offering...
When the Civil War halted steamboat travel on the Mississippi River in 1861, an unemployed riverboat pilot named Samuel Clemens enlisted in the Mis...
When John Rockwell, a Yankee captive at Andersonville, reaches across the prison's "dead line" to pluck a bunch of violets, Confederate guard Jack Foster is supposed to shoot him. Conflicted over thoughts of Lucy Moore, his girl back home, Foster lowers his gun. Spared, Rockwell lives to escape Andersonville, and Foster is discharged in disgrace.
After the war, the paths of the two men are predictably divergent. Foster, as a symbol of the Confederacy, is a burned-out, bitter shell. Rockwell, as an emblem of the North, is thrifty and eager to make something of himself.
When...
When John Rockwell, a Yankee captive at Andersonville, reaches across the prison's "dead line" to pluck a bunch of violets, Confederate guard J...
Augustus Baldwin Longstreet's "Georgia Scenes, Characters, Incidents, Etc. in the First Half Century of the Republic" has long been considered the first important work of "Old Southwestern" humor and more lately has been recognized as a seminal example of literary realism. Despite its popularity and significance, Georgia Scenes has been flawed from the outset. Longstreet did not proofread the first edition, which introduced literally hundreds of misprints. In this collection, David Rachels corrects these errors, adds nine previously uncollected "Georgia Scenes" to Longstreet's original set of...
Augustus Baldwin Longstreet's "Georgia Scenes, Characters, Incidents, Etc. in the First Half Century of the Republic" has long been considered the fir...
It starts with a letter. Ken McCall is sunning himself in Key West with his current girlfriend, Betty, when he finds out that his old friend Carl has died. Carl's last wish was that Ken look after his wife, Nanette, a request which Ken is only too eager to fill. Besides, there may be a fortune to be had if he can just play his cards right. First he ditches Betty. Then, after a hot drive across country, Ken finds that Carl's New Mexico mountaintop mansion is in the midst of a record-breaking winter. He is warmed immediately by his reception from a lovely...
NUDE ON THIN ICE
It starts with a letter. Ken McCall is sunning himself in Key West with his current girlfriend, Betty, when he fin...
Long considered an important work, GEORGIA SCENES, printed unproofed, was flawed despite its significance and popularity. In this collection, David Rachels corrects the errors, adds nine previously uncollected "Georgia Scenes" to the original 19, and looks at Longstreet's life and place in Literature. Illustrations.
Long considered an important work, GEORGIA SCENES, printed unproofed, was flawed despite its significance and popularity. In this collection, David Ra...
