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Humorous Stories and Sketches
Mark Twain's inimitable blend of humor, satire, and masterly storytelling earned him a secure place in the front rank of American writers. This collection of eight stories and sketches, among them the celebrated classic "The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," shows the great humorist at the top of his form.
Also included here are "Journalism in Tennessee," in which a novice newspaperman is shown the "correct way" to report a news story; "About Barbers," a delightful account of every barbershop customer's worst fear; "Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offenses," Twain's hilarious savaging of that author's style; and four more: "A Literary Nightmare," "The Stolen White Elephant," "The Private History of a Campaign that Failed," and "How to Tell a Story."
Delightfully entertaining, these charming pieces will find an appreciative audience among students, general readers, and lovers of classic American humor.
Also included here are "Journalism in Tennessee," in which a novice newspaperman is shown the "correct way" to report a news story; "About Barbers," a delightful account of every barbershop customer's worst fear; "Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offenses," Twain's hilarious savaging of that author's style; and four more: "A Literary Nightmare," "The Stolen White Elephant," "The Private History of a Campaign that Failed," and "How to Tell a Story."
Delightfully entertaining, these charming pieces will find an appreciative audience among students, general readers, and lovers of classic American humor.
80 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1870
58 people are currently reading
398 people want to read
About the author
Mark Twain
8,913 books18.7k followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist and essayist. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has produced," with William Faulkner calling him "the father of American literature." His novels include The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), with the latter often called the "Great American Novel." Twain also wrote A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1889) and Pudd'nhead Wilson (1894), and co-wrote The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today (1873) with Charles Dudley Warner.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist and essayist. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has produced," with William Faulkner calling him "the father of American literature." His novels include The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), with the latter often called the "Great American Novel." Twain also wrote A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1889) and Pudd'nhead Wilson (1894), and co-wrote The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today (1873) with Charles Dudley Warner.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
December 8, 2017
Hilarious? Wonderful? Humorous doesn't begin to sum up how funny this book is. There were a couple of stories that made absolutely no sense, but that was okay.
My favorites, in order:
1. A Literary Nightmare
2. The Stolen White Elephant
3. Journalism in Tennessee
4. About Barbers
Definitely read this one, if you're looking for some fluffy and funny classic short stories! I enjoyed these wayyyyy more than I liked Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer (which isn't saying much; I hate both of those books with all my soul).
CONTENT:
A little humorous violent content; "Journalism in TN" in particular relies on dark humor to get its point across, but that's okay. The only thing I'd really mention is that in "The Private History of a Campaign that Failed," the narrator kills a man during the Civil War and is plagued with guilt over it. But otherwise there's no ill content whatsoever--just hilarity!
Definitely recommend!
My favorites, in order:
1. A Literary Nightmare
2. The Stolen White Elephant
3. Journalism in Tennessee
4. About Barbers
Definitely read this one, if you're looking for some fluffy and funny classic short stories! I enjoyed these wayyyyy more than I liked Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer (which isn't saying much; I hate both of those books with all my soul).
CONTENT:
A little humorous violent content; "Journalism in TN" in particular relies on dark humor to get its point across, but that's okay. The only thing I'd really mention is that in "The Private History of a Campaign that Failed," the narrator kills a man during the Civil War and is plagued with guilt over it. But otherwise there's no ill content whatsoever--just hilarity!
Definitely recommend!
January 25, 2024
Don’t read this.
December 2, 2023
3.5 ⭐
January 22, 2015
3.5
This was a very short read. I think maybe this is something I'll have to revisit in twenty years or so, because a few of the stories, including the famous one about the notorious jumping frog, didn't much appeal to me. There were funny bits in all of the sketches, but only two of them, A Literary Nightmare and Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offenses, had me laughing the whole way through.
A Literary Nightmare is one of the shortest of the bunch, about an infuriating little rhyme that worms its way insidiously into the speaker's head. The rhyme is as follows:
Read that three times fast without laughing or tripping over your tongue. I dare you.
Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offenses was hilariously sarcastic. I mean, so were all of the stories, at least at times, but Mark Twain's comments about Cooper's overuse of literary devices and the complete lack of uniformity of his characters were bitingly funny.
I had to read this for school; didn't like it as much as I thought I would, since I suspect some of the humor went over my head; however, if you've read any of Twain's other stuff, you should definitely give this a try.
This was a very short read. I think maybe this is something I'll have to revisit in twenty years or so, because a few of the stories, including the famous one about the notorious jumping frog, didn't much appeal to me. There were funny bits in all of the sketches, but only two of them, A Literary Nightmare and Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offenses, had me laughing the whole way through.
A Literary Nightmare is one of the shortest of the bunch, about an infuriating little rhyme that worms its way insidiously into the speaker's head. The rhyme is as follows:
Conductor, when you receive a fare,
Punch in the presence of the passenjare!
A blue trip slip for an eight-cent fare,
A buff trip slip for a six-cent fare,
A pink trip slip for a three-cent fare,
Punch in the presence of the passenjare!
CHORUS
Punch brothers! Punch with care!
Punch in the presence of the passenjare!
Read that three times fast without laughing or tripping over your tongue. I dare you.
Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offenses was hilariously sarcastic. I mean, so were all of the stories, at least at times, but Mark Twain's comments about Cooper's overuse of literary devices and the complete lack of uniformity of his characters were bitingly funny.
I had to read this for school; didn't like it as much as I thought I would, since I suspect some of the humor went over my head; however, if you've read any of Twain's other stuff, you should definitely give this a try.
January 1, 2020
Most of these stories didn't pass the test of time, but I enjoyed "The Private History of a Campaign that Failed," about some Confederate soldiers who avoid fighting in the Civil War.
September 12, 2022
The always entertaining Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) came in on Halley’s Comet and left on it 74 years later.
That alone would make him special.
However, his gift of story telling put him in a class all of his own.
This book contains eight enjoyable stories/sketches that don’t disappoint.
My favorite had me laughing out loud.
It’s called Fenimore Cooper’s Literary Offences (his spelling).
In it he critiques two of Cooper’s stories, The Pathfinder and The Deerslayer.
He points out that there are as many as 22 rules governing literary art in the domain of romantic fiction, and how Cooper, in Deerslayer alone, violated eighteen of them.
He goes on to site the “rules” and points out the incidents where they occurred.
Very entertaining reading.
This probably means I now need to read the two stories he describes to enjoy the full extent of his observations.
That alone would make him special.
However, his gift of story telling put him in a class all of his own.
This book contains eight enjoyable stories/sketches that don’t disappoint.
My favorite had me laughing out loud.
It’s called Fenimore Cooper’s Literary Offences (his spelling).
In it he critiques two of Cooper’s stories, The Pathfinder and The Deerslayer.
He points out that there are as many as 22 rules governing literary art in the domain of romantic fiction, and how Cooper, in Deerslayer alone, violated eighteen of them.
He goes on to site the “rules” and points out the incidents where they occurred.
Very entertaining reading.
This probably means I now need to read the two stories he describes to enjoy the full extent of his observations.
February 11, 2025
This was such a fun read. “Journalism in Tennessee” and “About Barbers” would be tied for my favorite of the seven tales. I could almost see Twain, giddy with excitement and delight, as he wrote these stories. His abilities as an author are displayed through his use of setting, characters, vibrant vocabulary, irony, and original humor. (All of which made me remember my creative writing professor as these were what he deemed to be the hallmark of an excellent author. I couldn’t help but think that this would have served as a comprehensive “textbook” for that class.) What fun it is to be reminded of the bizarreness of life, and not to take it too seriously.
September 26, 2018
It was very interesting to see what kind of writing style was seen as humorous in Mark Twains era. I enjoyed reading the different short stories and sketches Mark Twain created. Mark Twain certainly had an amazing sense of humor. I found myself laughing out loud in a few places. Happy Reading!
August 1, 2020
I never really considered myself a Mark Twain fan, since I mostly associate him with kids stuff like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, as well as the mediocre A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT, none of which were ever my jam. Still, I'm often surprised at how wonderful some of his lesser-known works are, with this short little collection being a perfect case in point.
Yes, these stories are quite humorous. And no, "humorous" is not a synonym for gut-bustingly funny. Twain's humor is very understated by today's standards, so don't go into this book expecting the kind of humor you get from an episode of SNL. But if you're someone who appreciates witty writing more than pratfalls, the $3 cover price for this book ($2 if you download the Kindle version) will feel like highway robbery. For less than the price of an order of Crazy Bread at Little Caesar's, you get:
"The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" -- Though not much of a story per se, it perfectly showcases Twain's subtle humor and pitch-perfect ear for dialog.
"Journalism in Tennessee" -- Though written ages ago, this story remains completely relevant today, with Tennessee-style journalism having now become American journalism in general.
"About Barbers" -- If you're someone who dreads your regular appointments at the salon or barbershop, this comedic essay is a gem.
"A Literary Nightmare" -- Can't get the latest Taylor Swift song out of your head? That's nothing compared to Twain's take on the ultimate "ear worm," a rhyme so catchy it ruins people's lives until they finally unburden themselves of it by passing it along to others.
"The Stolen White Elephant" -- Twain disdained Conan Doyle's SHERLOCK HOLMES mysteries and delighted in mocking them. For example, Twain's "A Double Barrelled Detective Story" featured Holmes accusing the wrong man of the crime. Here, the "hero" detective ruins a man's life and cons him out of his personal fortune, all in the process of "solving" the case.
"The Private History of a Campaign that Failed" -- Thoughtful little Civil War story about a group of teen boys caught up in the romance of battle but not knowing what war really entails.
"Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offences" -- Comes across as the harshest book review ever written, making for first-rate entertainment despite the fact I actually LIKE James Fenimore Cooper. The word "scathing" only begins to describe it. Imagine Edgar Allan Poe reviewing a Dan Brown novel, and you'll have some idea I mean.
"How to Tell a Story" -- If you have a camping trip coming up, Twain provides an outline for the perfect campfire tale, assuming you're a good enough storyteller to pull it off.
Yes, these stories are quite humorous. And no, "humorous" is not a synonym for gut-bustingly funny. Twain's humor is very understated by today's standards, so don't go into this book expecting the kind of humor you get from an episode of SNL. But if you're someone who appreciates witty writing more than pratfalls, the $3 cover price for this book ($2 if you download the Kindle version) will feel like highway robbery. For less than the price of an order of Crazy Bread at Little Caesar's, you get:
"The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" -- Though not much of a story per se, it perfectly showcases Twain's subtle humor and pitch-perfect ear for dialog.
"Journalism in Tennessee" -- Though written ages ago, this story remains completely relevant today, with Tennessee-style journalism having now become American journalism in general.
"About Barbers" -- If you're someone who dreads your regular appointments at the salon or barbershop, this comedic essay is a gem.
"A Literary Nightmare" -- Can't get the latest Taylor Swift song out of your head? That's nothing compared to Twain's take on the ultimate "ear worm," a rhyme so catchy it ruins people's lives until they finally unburden themselves of it by passing it along to others.
"The Stolen White Elephant" -- Twain disdained Conan Doyle's SHERLOCK HOLMES mysteries and delighted in mocking them. For example, Twain's "A Double Barrelled Detective Story" featured Holmes accusing the wrong man of the crime. Here, the "hero" detective ruins a man's life and cons him out of his personal fortune, all in the process of "solving" the case.
"The Private History of a Campaign that Failed" -- Thoughtful little Civil War story about a group of teen boys caught up in the romance of battle but not knowing what war really entails.
"Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offences" -- Comes across as the harshest book review ever written, making for first-rate entertainment despite the fact I actually LIKE James Fenimore Cooper. The word "scathing" only begins to describe it. Imagine Edgar Allan Poe reviewing a Dan Brown novel, and you'll have some idea I mean.
"How to Tell a Story" -- If you have a camping trip coming up, Twain provides an outline for the perfect campfire tale, assuming you're a good enough storyteller to pull it off.
March 20, 2017
Eight delicious examples of Mark Twain's sharp and luminous humour make up this collection of "stories and sketches" that are prime examples of what Twain himself describes in the last piece of this anthology, "How To Tell a Story" (in which he details what he considers to be one of the United States' greatest literary contribution, the humorous story). Perhaps the best known story in this anthology is "The Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" (a yarn that seems to go on forever and which must certainly have been one of the models for Abe Simpson's stories), but all the pieces are cleverly witty, whether they are poking fun at the world of writers (whether questioning what truth means in journalism, as in "Journalism in Tennessee" or dissecting other writers' literary faults, as in "Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offences"), or the world of the law and its enforcers ("The Stolen Whit Elephant") or the army and the wars ("The Private Story of a Campaign That Failed").
December 13, 2007
This book is maybe 75 pages, but it took me forever to read. Twain's way of stringing a sentence together is so witty that it demands your complete attention. Join him as he travels to the barbershop for a slash-and-burn shaving experience, or as he summarizes gives James Fennimore Cooper a little spanking for the literary faux pas his book The Deerslayer. It's amazing how something written in the late 1800s can still resonate so clearly with today's reading audience. You'z a funny guy Markie.
January 23, 2023
A very slim volume (74 pp) collecting eight humorous pieces by Twain; there's no pretense at this being a representative or "best of" selection- it's exactly what it says on the tin. The three earlier pieces (the inevitable "Jumping Frog," "Journalism in Tennessee," and "About Barbers") are, frankly, rather weaker, but the more mature works are all very good- "A Literary Nightmare" feels like it could've been written yesterday; "The Stolen White Elephant" is a consistently funny burlesque on novels and news reportage glorifying police detectives; "The Private History of a Campaign that Failed" entertainingly recounts Twain's fleeting involvement in the Civil War (though is clearly embellished); the famous "Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offences" is manifestly unfair, but also very funny; and "How to Tell a Story" is slight, but insightful.
May 29, 2021
Before Kurt Vonnegut dazzled the literary stage, there was Mark Twain. His humor was off the charts. In this tiny collection of short stories and essays, he tells a story about a frog-jumping contest, shares his experience at the barber's, satirizes the thirst for gore in 19th century journalism, warns about the dangers of catchy rhymes, pokes fun at the corrupt detective business, takes a whimsical look at the Civil War, criticizes James Fenimore Cooper's novels with fiery yet convincing arguments, and describes his tricks for being a standup comedian. It is a wholesomely fun ride.
I think I'm starting to understand why Mark Twain and Nikola Tesla became fast friends.
I think I'm starting to understand why Mark Twain and Nikola Tesla became fast friends.
May 18, 2018
Humorous indeed
There will never be another Twain. While in some cases, it is a bit more challenging to relate to the subject matter, such as in the story of the Civil War "soldiers" or the searing criticism of James Fenimore Cooper (but still worth a chuckle or two), for the most part Twain's stories are timeless and his works will always stand against the great writers of any age. Makes me proud to be an American.
There will never be another Twain. While in some cases, it is a bit more challenging to relate to the subject matter, such as in the story of the Civil War "soldiers" or the searing criticism of James Fenimore Cooper (but still worth a chuckle or two), for the most part Twain's stories are timeless and his works will always stand against the great writers of any age. Makes me proud to be an American.
January 29, 2024
Fun but not as funny as the name suggests. This book is a collection of 8 short stories that take place in post Civil War America. I read this with my high schooler for part of his American History course. We found only one story, "Journalism in Tennessee" to really have us laugh out loud with the series of mishaps. The other stories were just informative of the time period and not really humorous, but maybe would have felt more humorous at the time it was written.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2024
Not like most classics. Funny and lighthearted though not all of them made me laugh. Really, I liked the one about the barbers but none of the others:( It was good, but I probably won't read it again. I read it in one day, though. It was a quick read. I definitely recommend just for some giggles!
TRIGGER WARNINGS: A bit of war related blood, but not awful. One story about a beheaded man, not much else.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: A bit of war related blood, but not awful. One story about a beheaded man, not much else.
January 22, 2020
Not bad, but certainly not my kind of humor. None of these really made me laugh. I just read this for school. I did give it two stars thought because I think it was written beautifully and if you can appreciate Mark Twain’s humor, it’s probably incredible. To sum it up, it wasn’t a bad book. My low rating is simply a preference thing.
July 2, 2020
Twain's rant, Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offences, is worth the price of the book alone. God how I wish he were alive today, he would be at the helm of a mighty blog and satirical website, and we would all be the better for it.
And no, I didn't misspell offence, that is Twain's spelling and I bow to him.
And no, I didn't misspell offence, that is Twain's spelling and I bow to him.
June 26, 2020
I admit I don’t have much of a sense of humor but I can appreciate it in others. This book was not only not funny it wasn’t even entertaining. Some of the stories made no sense. This was so bad I didn’t finish it and there’s a rare book I’ll say that about.
January 20, 2022
Definitely not my favorite of Twain's books. It is decidedly humorous though. Some of the works were simply tedious, some had me rolling. I want to read James Fennimore Cooper's Deerslayer just to laugh at it as I see it through Twain's eyes.
November 19, 2022
Delightful stories from the past. Must read!
These stories take me back in time what time will I miss everyday. It's a wonderful To be able to travel back To the days of mark twain And then you Will sooth your soel.
These stories take me back in time what time will I miss everyday. It's a wonderful To be able to travel back To the days of mark twain And then you Will sooth your soel.
March 3, 2025
This book is separated into a humorous collection of short stories. My favorites being "About Barbers" & "A Literary Nightmare." The little ditty in the second story was stuck in my head for days after this! These were so fun to read!
February 8, 2017
Not a pleasant thing to discover that, apparently, I have a terrible sense of humor.
His savage takedown of James Fenimore Cooper gave me a few chuckles though...
His savage takedown of James Fenimore Cooper gave me a few chuckles though...
August 3, 2017
A thoroughly entertaining book.
July 19, 2019
Though it was interesting to see the writing style during the time these stories were written, the book didn’t interest me very much and it wasn’t the easiest to understand at times
August 2, 2019
An amusing collection -- lots of tounge in cheek (satires?). My favorite was the one about the stolen elephant.
February 18, 2022
7/10
Writing 3.75/5, Stories 3.25/5
Writing 3.75/5, Stories 3.25/5
January 27, 2023
Very funny!
February 1, 2023
Journalism in Tennessee was really good but the others were just alright.
April 14, 2023
My Favorites:
-About Barbers
-A Literary Nightmare
-The Stolen White Elephant
-A Campaign That Failed
-Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offenses
-About Barbers
-A Literary Nightmare
-The Stolen White Elephant
-A Campaign That Failed
-Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offenses
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