That Mark Twain, Brilliant but o – so – odd. This is an example of one of his experimental writing projects. 273 pages of a mix of pseudo-journalism, politics, and general folderol of the upper class of the time of Twain. A delightful romp through British and American matters is a follow-up to THE GILDED AGE. There are plot twists, mistaken identities and more then one role-switch while Twain, with his typical wit, examines the serious differences between the American democracy and the English hereditary aristocracy.
From the front matter of the book:
THE WEATHER IN THIS BOOK.
No weather will be found in this book. This is an attempt to pull a book through without weather. It being the first attempt of the kind in fictitious literature, it may prove a failure, but it seemed worth the while of some dare-devil person to try it, and the author was in just the mood.
Many a reader who wanted to read a tale through was not able to do it because of delays on account of the weather. Nothing breaks up an author’s progress like having to stop every few pages to fuss-up the weather. Thus it is plain that persistent intrusions of weather are bad for both reader and author.
Of course weather is necessary to a narrative of human experience. That is conceded. But it ought to be put where it will not be in the way; where it will not interrupt the flow of the narrative. And it ought to be the ablest weather that can be had, not ignorant, poor-quality, amateur weather. Weather is a literary specialty, and no untrained hand can turn out a good article of it. The present author can do only a few trifling ordinary kinds of weather, and he cannot do those very good. So it has seemed wisest to borrow such weather as is necessary for the book from qualified and recognized experts–giving credit, of course. This weather will be found over in the back part of the book, out of the way. See Appendix. The reader is requested to turn over and help himself from time to time as he goes along.
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Charles L. Webster & Co., New York, 1892. Illustrated throughout by Dan Beard. 8vo, First Edition in original pale olive-green cloth lettered and decorated in gilt and black on spine and cover in Very good condition minor wear to extremities of spine - no dustjacket. Appendix, many pages of period advertisements in rear including other Twain offerings and other period authors. Offered at Michael’s Books for $475.00 Postpaid to U.S. addresses.
