The "Encyclopedia's" more than 700 alphabetically arranged entries cover a full variety of topics on this major American writer's life, intellectual milieu, literary career, and achievements. Because so much of Twain's travel narratives, essays, letters, sketches, autobiography, journalism and fiction reflect his personal experience, particular attention is given to the delicate relationship between art and life, between artistic interpretations and their factual source.
The coverage ranges over the full spectrum of Twain's life and times: the author's childhood in Missouri and apprenticeship as a riverboat pilot, early career as a journalist in the West, world travels, friendships with well-known figures, reading and education, family life, career as a businessman-in short, the names, dates, places and events germane to an understanding of the artist.
In addition to biographical information, Twain's novels and travel narratives, and most of his short stories, sketches, burlesques, andessays receive individual attention in articles that provide a general introduction to the primary work, cite major critical approaches and points of scholarly controversy, and suggest supplementary readings. Significant characters, places, and landmarks-especially those which appear in the major fiction or recur in several works-are treated in shorter entries that identify the subject and comment succinctly on its importance. Longer and more general articles treat recurring concerns, themes or concepts such as his humor; his use of language; his attitudes on race, war, religion, politics, imperialism, art, and science; point of view; imagery; sources; and influences. Each entry is accompanied by aselective bibliography.

"A model reference work that can be used with profit and delight by general readers as well as by more advanced students of Twain. Highly recommended." - Library Journal The Routledge Encyclopedia of Mark Twain includes more than 700 alphabetically arranged entries that cover a full variety of topics on this major American writer's life, intellectual milieu, literary career, and achievements. Because so much of Twain's travel narratives, essays, letters, sketches, autobiography, journalism and fiction reflect his personal experience, particular attention is given to the delicate relationship between art and life, between artistic interpretations and their factual source. This comprehensive resource includes information on: Twain's life and times: the author's childhood in Missouri and apprenticeship as a riverboat pilot, early career as a journalist in the West, world travels, friendships with well-known figures, reading and education, family life and career Complete Works: including novels, travel narratives, short stories, sketches, burlesques, and essays Significant characters, places, and landmarks Recurring concerns, themes or concepts: such as humor, language; race, war, religion, politics, imperialism, art and science Twain's sources and influences. Useful for students, researchers, librarians and teachers, this volume features a chronology, a special appendix section tracking the poet's genealogy, and a thorough index. Each entry also includes a bibliography for further study.