Specs and Review

• Audible Audio Edition
• Listening Length: 26 hours and 22 minutes
• Program Type: Audiobook
• Version: Unabridged
• Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
• Audible.com Release Date: October 5, 2013
• Whispersync for Voice: Ready
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00EINSLJC

It was about 40 years ago that I, as a young man, fell in love with the writings of Mark Twain. My interest was less in his fiction (not to denigrate it) than in his non-fiction works: the travel books, the humanist essays, the political and religious commentary. Early on, I learned that Clemens had some autobiographical writings that he insisted not be published until 100 years after his death because he found it was the only way he could be completely honest about his feelings and opinions. I felt sorry for the Twain enthusiasts who would not live long enough to experience those writings and I wondered if I myself would make it.

Well, if you are reading these words, we both survived long enough to now enjoy the first two volumes of Clemens unexpurgated autobiography and for me it was definitely worth the wait. Clemens peculiar method of composing this book was not to arrange it chronologically or by subject matter, but to just dictate whatever anecdotes and memories that came to mind. It might be a newspaper clipping mentioning an old acquaintance that inspired him to talk about that person. The anniversary of his beloved wifes death quite naturally brought him to that subject. Though some question this unusual biographical form, I find it delightful because it reads as though you are visiting Clemens and listening to whatever he feels like talking about that day--jumping back and forth in time, going on tangents, etc. Some of his recollections will be familiar to those who have read the heavily edited autobiographies previously published, but here you get the authentic words of this American treasure.

This is a very thick book, over 700 pages, but only about 450 of those pages are Clemens autobiographical dictations.