The Complete Humorous Sketches and Tales of Mark Twain

by Mark Twain

Book Overview

This is the first and most complete collection of all 136 humorous sketchers and tales that Samuel Clemens (1835-1940), a.k.a Mark Twain, wrote as a young reporter for various newspapers and magazines and later saw fit to issue in book form.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 038501094X
• ISBN13: 9780385010948
• Release Date: March 1985
• Publisher: Doubleday Books
• Length: 722 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The best ever intro to Mark Twain

My dad had the original hardback edition of this book in the early 60's, when it was first compiled. I read this book dozens of times, to the point where the covers were torn off and pages were missing. This softback is the reissue, and is marvelous. It is a compilation of short sketches taken from his novels, newspaper articles and other published sources. If you are only looking for the "funny stuff" from Mark Twain, without reading the accompanied novels it is all here. "Curing a Cold" is an early stand alone sketch, while "Guying the Guide" comes from "Innocents Abroad." Both of these are worth the price of the book. After reading this, you might consider "The Unabridged Mark Twain, Vol. I and II." A great companion to this book is the "Complete Essays of Mark Twain." You'll find much less familiar material of a mostly serious nature. Great essays dealing with mental telepathy, international events and one brilliant, touching essay called "The Death of Jean," Mark Twain's thoughts when he found that his adult, epileptic daughter had died. These two books together make reading in short bursts very meaningful when you don't have the time to read the entire novel. They serve to document the genius of a writer only America could have produced.

A distressingly funny book, inappropriate for quiet areas

This collection features stories so humourous that there should be a warning for heart patients. Ranging from advice for "Curing a Cold" to an angry article "Concerning Chaimbermaids", this set of articles will provide so much laughter aerobics will be unneccessary during the duration of the reading.