After laughing their way through his classic and beloved depictions of nineteenth-century American life, few readers would suspect that Mark Twain's last years were anything but happy and joyful. They would be wrong. As Hamlin Hill reveals in "Mark Twain: God's Fool", contrary to the myth perpetrated by his literary executors, Twain ended his life as a frustrated writer plagued by paranoia. He suffered personal tragedies, got involved in questionable business ventures, and was a demanding and controlling father and husband. As Hill's book demonstrates, the difficult circumstances of Twain's personal life make his humorous output all the more surprising and admirable.

About the Author
Hamlin Hill (1931-2002) taught at the University of New Mexico, the University of Chicago, and Texas A&M University, where he led the Department of English until 1989. He is the author or editor of many volumes, several of which center on Mark Twain, Twain's work, and American humor.

Reviews
"Certainly one of the most reliable and readable books in the whole huge library of Twain biographical studies. Hill makes sense of a confusing and often contradictory set of data. This is a notable, graceful, convincing book." - "New Republic" "Fills a great, long-standing need for a thoroughly researched book about Mark Twain's twilight years.... Splendidly, grippingly written and excellently documented.... Likely to be a standard work for as long as anyone can foresee." - "Choice"



Book Information
ISBN 9780226336473
Author Hamlin Hill
Format Paperback
Page Count 336
Imprint University of Chicago Press
Publisher The University of Chicago Press
Weight(grams) 454g
Dimensions(mm) 22mm * 15mm * 2mm