Dear Mark Twain: Letters from His Readers (Volume 4)

Jumping Frogs: Undiscovered, Rediscovered, and Celebrated Writings of Mark Twain

by R. Kent Rasmussen (Editor), Mark Twain (Primary Contributor)

A voracious pack-rat, Mark Twain hoarded his readers' letters as did few of his contemporaries. Dear Mark Twain collects 200 of these letters written by a diverse cross-section of correspondents from around the world―children, farmers, schoolteachers, businessmen, preachers, railroad clerks, inmates of mental institutions, con artists, and even a former president. It is a unique and groundbreaking book―the first published collection of reader letters to any writer of Mark Twain's time. Its contents afford a rare and exhilarating glimpse into the sensibilities of nineteenth-century people while revealing the impact Samuel L. Clemens had on his readers. Clemens’s own and often startling comments and replies are also included.

R. Kent Rasmussen’s extensive research provides fascinating profiles of the correspondents, whose personal stories are often as interesting as their letters. Ranging from gushing fan appreciations and requests for help and advice to suggestions for writing projects and stinging criticisms, the letters are filled with perceptive insights, pathos, and unintentional but often riotous humor. Many are deeply moving, more than a few are hilarious, some may be shocking, but none are dull.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

316 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

(I'm writing this in November 2016 merely to report I have not been active on GoodReads for several years. I've been busying writing and editing books and haven't had the time or inclination to keep up with social media. I don't object to this sort of site on principle. It's just that I'm bothered by the way keeping up everything can suck up one's time and become an end in itself.)

Reviews

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 4th volume in the Mark Twain Papers occasional and random series: "Jumping Frogs" of undiscovered rediscovered and celebrated writings of Mark Twain.
This is a real oddity there have been plenty of volumes of letters from great men, including all of Twain's correspondence, but a volume of letters to a celebrated individual from ordinary members of the public is almost unknown. There is very little actual Twain in this book most of the letters either went unanswered or Twain's answers have been lost, in some cases however he scrawled the odd comment (often disparagingly) onto the letters. The present volume is exactly what it says "Letters from his readers" and they are transcribed exactly as written with all spelling mistakes (I never knew there were so many ways to spell Clemens) and lapses of grammar! Coupled with which the editors have somehow managed to give a potted biography of almost all the correspondents, no matter how obscure. All of which doesn't if I'm truthful seem too hopeful a subject for a book. However although the book can get wearing, there is still fun to be had from the cranks, bad poets and sincere well wishes who have emerged from the forgotten past of over a hundred years ago to populate this unique book.

[Diane Waldo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting and entertaining, but it should have come with its own magnifying glass! The point size for the letters was extremely small, and the size diminished for the biographical information about the letter writers.

[Pix Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Mark Twain.

Thus warned, this didn't disappoint. It is scholarly, and it can be dry, but the parts that are funny give one quite an insight into the thinking of a great writer, and an interesting man.

If you're a Twain fan, by all means, pick it up. You'll be more of one at the end.