"A model reference work that can be used with profit and delight by general readers as well as by more advanced students of Twain. Highly recommended." - Library Journal

The Routledge Encyclopedia of Mark Twain includes more than 700 alphabetically arranged entries that cover a full variety of topics on this major American writer's life, intellectual milieu, literary career, and achievements. Because so much of Twain's travel narratives, essays, letters, sketches, autobiography, journalism and fiction reflect his personal experience, particular attention is given to the delicate relationship between art and life, between artistic interpretations and their factual source.

This comprehensive resource includes information on:

• Twain's life and times: the author's childhood in Missouri and apprenticeship as a riverboat pilot, early career as a journalist in the West, world travels, friendships with well-known figures, reading and education, family life and career

• Complete Works: including novels, travel narratives, short stories, sketches, burlesques, and essays

• Significant characters, places, and landmarks

• Recurring concerns, themes or concepts: such as humor, language; race, war, religion, politics, imperialism, art and science

• Twain's sources and influences.

Useful for students, researchers, librarians and teachers, this volume features a chronology, a special appendix section tracking the poet's genealogy, and a thorough index. Each entry also includes a bibliography for further study.

About the Author
J. R. LeMaster is Emeritas Professor of English at Baylor University. The late James D. Wilson (1946-1996) taught at the University of Southwestern Louisiana.

Reviews

"A pleasure to read and invaluable for students and scholars...Sure to become the standard guide to Twain for readers at all levels." -- American Libraries
"A model reference work that can be used with profit and delight by general readers as well as by more advanced students of Twain. Highly recommended." -- Library Journal
"The authors demonstrate their knowledge and mastery of both the primary and secondary Twain literature and synthesize research findings on this quintessentially American voice...this masterful collection of articles on nearly every topic relating to Twain will conveniently answer most questions about his works and life." -- Wilson Library Bulletin
"All librarians should risk forty dollars (plus) on this essential purchase." -- Choice
"A handy guide...comprehensive...thorough and reliable...a remarkable job." -- Mark Twain Forum
"Highly recommended for high school, public, and academic libraries." -- Reference Books Bulletin
"Highly recommended." -- Reference Book Review
"Its synthesis of much disparate information will be welcomed by scholars." -- American Reference Books Annual
"A marvelous miracle...exhaustive and comprehensive...fine book to read through or browse in." -- South Central Review
"Every student of Samuel Clemens or Mark Twain should gain access to this work." -- Journal of the American Studies Association of Texas

Book Information
ISBN 9780415890588
Author J.R. LeMaster
Format Paperback
Page Count 880
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 1564g