| Life on the Mississippi Contributor(s): Twain, Mark (Author) |
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ISBN: 1494280329 ISBN-13: 9781494280321 Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform OUR PRICE: $16.34 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: November 2013 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - History - Literary Criticism | American - General - Biography & Autobiography | Literary Figures |
| Dewey: 818.403 |
| Lexile Measure: 1090 |
| Physical Information: 0.7" H x 6" W x 9" (1.00 lbs) 338 pages |
| Themes: - Chronological Period - 19th Century - Cultural Region - Mississippi River Basin |
| Accelerated Reader Info |
| Quiz #: 10039 Reading Level: 9.1 Interest Level: Upper Grades Point Value: 24.0 |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Life on the Mississippi (1883) is a memoir by Mark Twain of his days as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River before the American Civil War, and also a travel book, recounting his trip along the Mississippi from St. Louis to New Orleans many years after the War. 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' of an experienced pilot. 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". In the second half, Twain narrates his trip many years later on a steamboat from St. Louis to New Orleans. 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. |