Life on the Mississippi
by Mark Twain
'Life on the Mississippi' Summary
The book begins with a brief history of the river as reported by Europeans and Americans, beginning with the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto in 1542. It continues with anecdotes of Twain's training as a steamboat pilot, as the 'cub' (apprentice) of an experienced pilot, Horace E. Bixby. He describes, with great affection, the science of navigating the ever-changing Mississippi River in a section that was first published in 1876, entitled "Old Times on the Mississippi". Although Twain was actually 21 when he began his training, he uses artistic license to make himself seem somewhat younger, referring to himself as a "fledgling" and a "boy" who "ran away from home" to seek his fortune on the river, and playing up his own callowness and naïveté.
In the second half, Twain narrates his trip many years later on a steamboat from St. Louis to New Orleans, shortly followed by a steamboat journey from New Orleans to St Paul (with a stop at his boyhood home town of Hannibal, MO). He describes the competition from railroads, and the new, large cities, and adds his observations on greed, gullibility, tragedy, and bad architecture. He also tells some stories that are most likely tall tales.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
EnglishPublished In
1883Author
Mark Twain
United States
Twain was fascinated with science and scientific inquiry. He developed a close and lasting friendship with Nikola Tesla, and the two spent much time together in Tesla's laboratory. Twain patented thre...
More on Mark TwainDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books
Winnetou III by Karl May
It follows the adventures of the German protagonist, Old Shatterhand, as he travels across the frontier with his friend and ally, Winnetou. In this t...
Eight Hundred Leagues on the Amazon (The Giant Raft) by Jules Verne
The novel tells the story of Joam Garral, a Brazilian rubber baron who is forced to flee his home when he is falsely accused of murder. He and his fam...
An Idler In The Wilds by Tickner Edwardes
It is a captivating book that takes readers on an extraordinary journey of discovery. Set against the backdrop of untamed wilderness, this enchanting...
Wessex Poems by Thomas Hardy
Wessex Poems and Other Verses (often referred to simply as Wessex Poems) is a collection of fifty-one poems set against the bleak and forbidding Dorse...
The Wailing Octopus by Harold L. Goodwin
It follows the journey of a marine biologist, Dr. Terry Kent, as he investigates a mysterious and deadly creature terrorizing a small island in the Pa...
Mount Royal Volume II by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
The mystery deepens in the Canadian wilderness, as a young woman races to save her half-sister from a dangerous and powerful enemy. In Mount Royal Vo...
Maggie: A Girl of the Streets by Stephen Crane
Maggie: A Girl of the Streets is novella by American author Stephen Crane . The story centers on Maggie, a young girl from the Bowery who is driven to...
Nibble Rabbit Makes More Friends by John Breck
Enjoy the further adventures of Nibble Bunny as he travels through wood and dell where he meets so many more friends such as Chaik Jay, Chewee the Chi...
Creditors by August Strindberg
Creditors is a naturalistic tragicomedy by the Swedish playwright August Strindberg. It was written in Swedish during August and September 1888 in Den...
3 Science Fiction Stories by Lester del Ray by Lester Del Rey
Embark on an extraordinary journey through time, space, and the mind with three captivating science fiction tales by Lester del Rey. In "Dead Ringer,...
Reviews for Life on the Mississippi
No reviews posted or approved, yet...