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
The Great Stone of Sardis by Frank R. Stockton
Hidden within the depths of the ancient Sardis forest lies an enigma that has perplexed generations—a captivating secret that will unravel the very fa...
Countess Julie by August Strindberg
Miss Julie is a naturalistic play written in 1888 by August Strindberg. It is set on Midsummer's Eve and the following morning, which is Midsummer and...
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...
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...
DUBLINERS: Masterful short stories by James Joyce
DUBLINERS: Masterful short stories about life in Dublin at the turn of the 19/20th century, By James Joyce Stories Included The Sisters An Encounter...
Mardi Vol. 1 by Herman Melville
Have you ever wondered what lies beyond the veil of reality? In Herman Melville's classic novel, Mardi, a young man named Taji embarks on an epic jou...
The Bridge Builders by Rudyard Kipling
The Bridge Builders is also a tale of the death of the Gods as their place in the earth is taken by the things of science. A close description of the...
The Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov
Three Sisters is a play by the Russian author and playwright Anton Chekhov. It was written in 1900 and first performed in 1901 at the Moscow Art Theat...
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...
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...
Reviews for Life on the Mississippi
No reviews posted or approved, yet...