Twain: Collected Tales Sketches Speeches and Essays Volu英文原版

图书标准信息

• 作者 Mark Twain 著
• 出版社 Library of America
• 出版时间 1992-10
• ISBN 9780940450738
• 定价 295.80元
• 装帧 精装
• 开本 其他
• 纸张 其他
• 页数 1050页
• 正文语种 英语
• 丛书 Library of America （Hardcover）

【内容简介】

ThiswithitscompanionvolumeisthemostcomprehensivecollectioneverpublishedofMarkTwain'sshortwritings:theincomparablestories,sketches,burlesques,hoaxes,talltales,speeches,satires,andmaximsofAmerica'sgreatesthumorist.ArrangedchronologicallyandcontainingmanypiecesrestoredtotheforminwhichTwainintendedthemtoappear,thevolumesshowwithunprecedentedclaritytheliteraryevolutionofMarkTwainoversixdecadesofhiscareer.Thisvolumecontainseightypiecesfromtheyears1891to1910,whenTwainemergedfrombankruptcyandpersonaltragedytobecomethewhite-suited,cigar-smokinginternationalcelebritywhoreportedonhisownfolliesandthoseofhumanitywithanunerringsenseoftheabsurd.SomestoriesdisplayTwain'sfascinationwithmoneyandgreed,suchas"TheEsquimauMaiden'sRomance"and"TheManThatCorruptedHadleyburg."Otherstories,writtenafterthedeathofhisdaughterSusyin1896,exploretheouterlimitsoffantasyandpsychicphenomena,including"WhichWastheDream?,""TheGreatDark,"and"MyPlatonicSweetheart."TheUnitedStatesmilitaryinvolvementinCuba,China,andthePhilippinesturnedTwain'sattentiontopoliticalsatireandinvective."TothePersonSittinginDarkness,""TheUnitedStatesofLyncherdom,""TheCzar'sSoliloquy,""KingLeopold'sSoliloquy,"and"TheWarPrayer"arebitingdenunciationsofEuropeanandAmericanimperialism.OtherpoliticalissuesinspiredarticlesandstoriesabouttheJews,thenotoriousDreyfuscase,andvivisection.Twain'sincreasinglyunorthodoxreligiousopinionsarepowerfully,oftencomicallyexpressedin"ExtractsfromAdam'sDiary,""Eve'sDiary,""EveSpeaks,""Adam'sSoliloquy,""AHumaneWordfromSatan,""WhatIsMan?,""ExtractfromCaptainStormfield'sVisittoHeaven,"and"LettersfromtheEarth.""Againsttheassaultoflaughter,"hesaid,"nothingcanstand."Twain'sbrilliantinventivenesscontinuestoshineinsuchlatercomicmasterpiecesas"FenimoreCooper'sLiteraryOffences,""ItalianWithoutaMaster,""HuntingtheDeceitfulTurkey,"and"MyFirstLieandHowIGotOutofIt."Aposthumouscollectionofproverbsandaphorisms("MoreMaximsofMark")isincludedasanappendix.Thepublishinghistoryofeverystory,essay,article,andspeechhasbeenthoroughlyresearched,andineachinstancethemostauthoritativetexthasbeenreproduced.ThiscollectionalsoincludesanextensivechronologyofTwain'scomplexlife,helpfulnotesonthepeopleandeventsreferredtoinhisworks,andaguidetothetexts.

【作者简介】

MarkTwainwasbornSamuelLanghorneClemensinFlorida,Missouri,in1835,anddiedatRedding,Connecticutin1910.Inhispersonandinhispursuitshewasamanofextraordinarycontrasts.Althoughheleftschoolattwelvewhenhisfatherdied,hewaseventuallyawardedhonorarydegreesfromYaleUniversity,theUniversityofMissouri,andOxfordUniversity.Hiscareerencompassedsuchvariedoccupationsasprinter,Mississippiriverboatpilot,journalist,travelwriter,andpublisher.Hemadefortunesfromhiswritingbuttowardtheendofhislifehehadtoresorttolecturetourstopayhisdebts.Hewashot-tempered,profane,andsentimental—andalsopessimistic,cynical,andtorturedbyself-doubt.Hisnostalgiahelpedproducesomeofhisbestbooks.HelivesinAmericanlettersasagreatartist,thewriterwhomWilliamDeanHowellscalled“theLincolnofourliterature.”