"An intimate look at Mark Twain that only he himself could offerA must-have for all lovers of Mark Twain, this selection of his autobiographical writings opens a rare window onto the writer's life, particularly his early years. Born on November 30, 1835, in Florida, Missouri, Samuel Langhorne Clemens first used the pseudonym Mark Twain while a journalist in Nevada in 1863. When his first major book, The Innocents Abroad, appeared six years later, he began what would become one of the most celebrated and influential careers in American letters. Autobiographical Writings will help readers know the author intimately and appreciate why, a century after his death, he remains so vital and appealing"--

"A curated collection of Mark Twain's autobiographical writings with particular attention to texts reflecting his early life. Our edition is significantly less apparatus-heavy than the UC Press edition and also includes various additional writings. R. Kent Rasmussen contributes a substantial introduction, summarizing the most interesting elements from modern scholarship surrounding the history of Twain's autobiography and his long-lasting appeal over one hundred years after his death. Also includes a new suggested further reading, as well as an edited Chronology and Sites to Visit from the enriched eBook edition of THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN"--