An ever-growing collection of conversations about literature, humor, and history in America, produced by the premier source for programming and funding scholarship on Mark Twain's life and legacy. more

Portraying Mark Twain for 35 years,has allowed me a foretaste of heavenprior to my earthly contract running out.The Wild Humorist of the Pacific Slopehas taught me that even in this crazy worldit is possible, no, vital, to smile… more

Mark reads great stories from the public domain.

A nineteenth-century boy from a Mississippi River town recounts his adventures as he travels down the river with a runaway slave, encountering a family involved in a feud, two scoundrels pretending to be royalty, and Tom Sawyer's aunt who mistakes him for Tom. more

Step back in time with the GSMC Audiobook Series as we bring you the unforgettable classic novel, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain. Join us on a remarkable journey as we accompany a Yankee engineer named Hank Morgan, who finds himself transported to England during the reign of King Arthur after a fateful blow to the head. Experience the wit, humor, and insightful social commentary of Mark Twain as he weaves a tale that combines medieval chivalry and modern technology. From the clash of cultures to the humorous and often satirical observations on society, this literary masterpiece captivates and entertains readers across generations. Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of knights, castles, and magic, where an outsider challenges the norms of the past with his knowledge of the future. Twain's keen observations and sharp wit shine through the pages, offering both laughter and thought-provoking insights into the human condition. The GSMC Audiobook Series collection is a treasure trove of classic literature and theatrical presentations. Let us transport you to a bygone era, where top audiobook performers breathe new life into these timeless tales, capturing the essence and spirit of the original works. Please note that these audiobooks are presented as historical content, unedited and reflecting the values of their time. It's important to remember that times have changed, and certain aspects might not align with today's politically correct society. The shows and audiobooks in our collection do not necessarily reflect the views, standards, or beliefs of Golden State Media Concepts or the GSMC Podcast Network. Our mission is to entertain, educate, and provide you with a glimpse into the past. Join us on this extraordinary literary adventure, where stories come alive through the power of audio. more

Spanning the time between 1872 and the year before he died, this collection of after-dinner speeches, random thoughts to 'the press', etc. clearly documents, once again, the truly eclectic mind of Samuel Clemens. It also demonstrates how he dealt with adulation, compliments and notoriety...head on! This collection is a treasure-trove of Twain sayings, witticisms and pronouncements on a huge galaxy of issues and concerns in his life. (Summary by John Greenman) more

This collection of 63 writings by Mark Twain was published in 1882. Among other sketches, it contains 'The Jumping Frog' in the original English, followed by a French translation (read here by Caroline Mittler) which Twain re-translated into English, showing how the French translation of his work was 'badly flawed.' In many of these sketches, Twain shows his talent for outrageous and hilarious inventiveness, often in reaction to current events. (Summary by John Greenman) more

Life on the Mississippi is a memoir by Mark Twain detailing his days as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River before the American Civil War. (Summary from Wikipedia) more

Writer/entertainer Garrison Keillor (A Prairie Home Companion) on 'The Innocents Abroad': '…one of the best selling travel books of all time.' (The Writer's Almanac, June 8, 2012)When you dive into Mark Twain's (Samuel Clemens') The Innocents Abroad, you have to be ready to learn more about the unadorned, ungilded reality of 19th century 'touring' than you might think you want to learn. This is a tough, literary journey. It was tough for Twain and his fellow 'pilgrims', both religious and otherwise. They set out, on a June day in 1867, to visit major tourist sites in Europe and the near east, including Greece, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, 'the Holy Land', and Egypt. What Twain records, in often humorous, sometimes grotesque but always fascinating detail, are the day-to-day ups and downs of discovering the truth about people and places. The truths they learn are often far different than their education and rumor have made them preconceive.This is a voyage of discovery. It's long and, in places, tiresome. But it's revelatory about so much. As with some of his other works, Twain includes popular prejudices of his time, which are today considered socially unacceptable. His references to 'Indians', 'Negroes' and 'infidels' come to mind.Beyond the lows, though, there are the highs of Twain's cutting wit and insight as he guides us along the bumpy and often dangerous voyage.No need to buckle up. Just take it slow, and steady…like the journey itself. (Summary by John Greenman) more

These letters were arranged in two volumes by Albert Bigelow Paine, Samuel L. Clemens's literary executor, as a supplement to Mark Twain, A Biography, which Paine wrote. They are, for the most part, every letter written by Clemens known to exist at the time of their publication in 1917. They begin with a fragment of a letter from teenaged Sam Clemens to his sister, Pamela, and conclude with a letter to his attorney two weeks before his death.These letters give us some degree of insight into the evolution of Twain's style of speech and prose over the period of his lifetime; they are a small window into the psyche that created the various characters of his stories.But they also reveal the tragedies of his life: the lack of success in his business ventures, the passing of family. And as I read each one in this collection, I can almost detect the faint odor of one of his 'devilish' cigars wafting across the room. (Introduction by James K. White) more

Come and hear the strange tale of The Boss Hank Morgan, a modern day (at the time of publication) Connecticut Yankee who inexplicably finds himself transported to the court of the legendary King Arthur (as the title of the book implies). Hank, or simply, The Boss, as he comes to be most frequently known, quickly uses his modern day knowledge and education to pass himself off as a great magician, to get himself out of all sorts of surprising, (and frequently amusing) situations, as well as to advance the technological and cultural status of the nation in which he finds himself.In the rather un-subtle sub-text of the story, Twain uses The Boss to express a surprisingly pragmatic and frequently contradictory philosophy. The Boss explores the relative merits of Democracy, and Monarchy, he expresses his views on the 'Nature v. Nurture' debate, he frequently speaks forcefully against an established Church, but just as strongly advocates for religion and a variety of churches (just not a compulsory one) and he devotes at least one afternoon to introducing his companions to the concept of inflation. In a far more subtle, yet no less forceful manner, the Boss shares with the reader some views about taxation, slavery (both literal and wage slavery), trade unions, the origins of the German language, the nature of marriage, and probably most powerfully, death.It is a tall order for a relatively brief text, but Twain manages it all with surprising clarity. No one will agree fully with the Boss on all of these matters, and I would be surprised if Twain himself would. In fact the Boss's views are so pragmatic, and often contradictory, the reader is left to wonder if Twain himself is alternately speaking through the Boss, and setting him up as a straw man. Either way it is a delightful story and a great piece of American Literature, to say nothing of an excellent argument for education.(Review written by Steve Andersen) more

Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The by Mark TwainThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer (published 1876) is a very well-known and popular story concerning American youth. Mark Twain's lively tale of the scrapes and adventures of boyhood is set in St. Petersburg, Missouri, where Tom Sawyer and his friend Huckleberry Finn have the kinds of adventures many boys can imagine: racing bugs during class, impressing girls, especially Becky Thatcher, with fights and stunts in the schoolyard, getting lost in a cave, and playing pirates on the Mississippi River. One of the most famous incidents in the book describes how Tom persuades his friends to do a boring, hateful chore for him: whitewashing (i.e., painting) a fence. This was the first novel to be written on a typewriter. more

Uit de inleiding van de schrijver bij de originele Engelstalige uitgave (helaas niet in deze vertaling opgenomen): 'Ofschoon mijn boek hoofdzakelijk bedoeld is voor het plezier van jongens en meisjes, hoop ik dat het daarom niet door de ouderen uit de weg wordt gegaan. Het was namelijk gedeeltelijk mijn bedoeling om volwassenen op een plezierige manier er aan te herinneren hoe zij zelf waren en dachten en spraken en welke vreemde zaken zij soms deden.' Tom Sawyer is de verpersoonlijking van de Amerikaanse jeugd in de negentiende eeuw. Hij leeft in het fictieve St Petersburg, samen met zijn tante Polly, zijn halfbroer Syd, zijn grote liefde Becky Thatcher en zijn vriend Huckleberry Finn. Dit is de eerste roman ooit, die op een typemachine werd geschreven. more

Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) began writing his autobiography long before the 1906 publications of these Chapters from my Autobiography. He originally planned to have his memoirs published only after his death but realized, once he'd passed his 70th year, that a lot of the material might be OK to publish before his departure. These chapters were published in serial form in the North American Review during 1906-1907. While much of the material consists of stories about the people, places and incidents of his long life, there are also several sections from his daughter, which he calls 'Susy's biography of me'. (Summary by John Greenman) more

In one of his later novels, the master storyteller spins a tale of two children switched at infancy. A slave takes on the identity of master and heir while the rightful heir is condemned to live the life of a slave. Twain uses this vehicle to explore themes of nature vs. nurture, racial bigotry and moral relativism. The case of mistaken identity is a theme that Twain explored also in THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER; in THE TRAGEDY OF PUDD'NHEAD WILSON he turns the theme into a well-crafted detective story. It is unfortunate that this is one of Twain's lesser known works as it is one of his most enjoyable reads. more

William Dean Howells (1837-1920) became fast friends with Mark Twain from the moment in 1869 when Twain strode into the office of The Atlantic Monthly in Boston to thank Howell, then its assistant editor, for his favorable review of Innocents Abroad. When Howells became editor a few years later, The Atlantic Monthly began serializing many of Twain's works, among them his non-fiction masterpiece, Life on the Mississippi. In My Mark Twain, Howells pens a literary memoir that includes such fascinating scenes as their meetings with former president Ulysses Grant who was then writing the classic autobiography that Twain would underwrite in the largest publishing deal until that time. But it is also notable for its affectionate descriptions of his friend's family life during Howell's many visits to the Twain residences in Hartford and Stormfield. (Summary by Dennis Sayers). more

These are some of Mark Twain's best short stories, adapted and told by Steve Daut. Episodes include historical notes and comments from Steve's book, Telling Twain, available through Amazon. To learn more about Steve, visit www.stevedaut.comSteve's storytelling program, also entitled Telling Twain, is currently listed in the Michigan Arts and Humanities Council travel directory. Special online presentations can be arranged by emailing me through mail@stevedaut.com more

Volume 1 contains these 12 essays: 1.) 'Americans on a Visit to the Emperor of Russia.' 2.) 'The Austrian Edison keeping school again' 3.) 'The Canvasser's tale.' 4.) 'The Czar's Soliloquy.' 5.) 'English as She is Taught.' 6.) 'Grasses in the South.' 7.) 'Hawaii.' 8.) 'A Helpless Situation.' 9.) 'How I Escaped being Killed in a Duel.' 10.) 'Important to Whom it may Concern.' 11.) 'The Austrian Edison Keeping School Again' 12.) 'Jim's Investments, and King Sollermun.' (Summary by John Greenman) more

The Prince and the Pauper (1882) represents Mark Twain's first attempt at historical fiction. The book, set in 1547, tells the story of two young boys who are identical in appearance: Tom Canty, a pauper who lives with his abusive father in Offal Court, London, and Prince Edward son of Henry VIII of England. Due to a series of circumstances, the boys accidentally replace each other, and much of the humor in the book originates in the two boys' inability to function in the world that is so familiar to the other (although Tom soon displays considerable wisdom in his decisions). In many ways, the book is a social satire, particularly compelling in its condemnation of the inequality that existed between the classes in Tudor England. In that sense, Twain abandoned the wry Midwestern style for which he was best known and adopts a style reminiscent of Charles Dickens. (Summary from Wikipedia.org) more

Tom Sawyer, Detective is an 1896 novel by Mark Twain. It is a sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876), Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), and Tom Sawyer Abroad (1894). Tom Sawyer attempts to solve a mysterious murder in this burlesque of the immensely popular detective novels of the time. Tom and Huck find themselves with Uncle Silas and his family again (see 'Huck Finn'), and much of the drama ends up focusing on Uncle Silas. Like the two preceding novels, the story is told using the first-person narrative voice of Huck Finn. (Summary by Wikipedia & John Greenman) more

The Mysterious Stranger-A Romance- is the final novel attempted by Mark Twain. It was worked on periodically from roughly 1890 up until 1910. The body of work is a serious social commentary by Twain addressing his ideas of the Moral Sense and the 'damned human race'. (Wikipedia and John Greenman) more

This audiobook is a collection of Mark Twain's anti-imperialist writings (newspaper articles, interviews, speeches, letters, essays and pamphlets). (Summary by Vineshen Pillay) more

A Horse's Tale is a novel by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens), written partially in the voice of Soldier Boy, who is Buffalo Bill's favorite horse, at a fictional frontier outpost with the U.S. 7th Cavalry. With a fanciful mix of points of view, we hear the story of Cathy and her relationship with Soldier Boy and the soldiers of the 7th Cavalry. A surprisingly graphic depiction of a Spanish bullfight leaves no doubt where Mark Twain's sympathies lie. (Introduction by John Greenman & Wikipedia) more

A Double Barrelled Detective Story is a novel by Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens), in which Sherlock Holmes finds himself in the American west.At a mining camp in California, Fetlock Jones, a nephew of Sherlock Holmes, kills his master, a silver-miner, by blowing up his cabin. Since this occurs when Holmes happens to be visiting, he brings his skills to bear upon the case and arrives at logically worked conclusions that are proved to be abysmally wrong by an amateur detective with an extremely keen sense of smell, which he employs in solving the case. This could be seen as yet another piece where Twain tries to prove that life does not quite follow logic. (Summary by Wikipedia) more

Tom Sawyer Abroad is a novel by Mark Twain published in 1894. It features Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn in a parody of Jules Verne-esque adventure stories. In the story, Tom, Huck, and Jim set sail to Africa in a futuristic hot air balloon, where they survive encounters with lions, robbers, and fleas to see some of the world's greatest wonders, including the Pyramids and the Sphinx. Like Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, Detective, the story is told using the first-person narrative voice of Huck Finn. (Summary by Wikipedia) more

Mark Twain's (Burlesque) Autobiography and First Romance, a short volume, published by Sheldon & Co., NY in 1871, is Mark Twain's third book. It consists of two stories - First Romance, which had originally appeared in The Express in 1870, and A Burlesque Autobiography (bearing no relationship to Twain's actual life), which first appeared in Twain's Memoranda contributions to the Galaxy. Rather, the content consists of a few short stories of fictional characters who are supposedly part of Twain's lineage. In the final passage, Twain develops the story to a point of crisis, and then abruptly ends the tale, saying:'The truth is, I have got my hero (or heroine) into such a particularly close place, that I do not see how I am ever going to get him (or her) out of it again—and therefore I will wash my hands of the whole business, and leave that person to get out the best way that offers—or else stay there. I thought it was going to be easy enough to straighten out that little difficulty, but it looks different now. 'With that, Twain's 'Autobiography' ends.The illustrations form an interesting aspect of this book. They have no relationship to the text of the book. Rather, they use cartoons illustrating the children's poem The House that Jack Built to lampoon the Erie Railroad Ring (the house) and its participants, Jay Gould, John T. Hoffman, and Jim Fisk.The book was not one of Twain's personal favorites. Two years after publication, he bought all of the printing plates of the book and destroyed them. (Introduction by Wikipedia) more

As the title reveals, these stories are a collection of some of Mark Twain's more fanciful and eccentric works. They run the gamut from political commentary to our species' need to 'be remembered' somehow. Taken as a whole the stories are 'whimsical'. Taken individually, they speak the truth in different ways. (Introduction by John Greenman) more

'Those Extraordinary Twins' was published as a short story, separate and distinct from its origins inside Twain's 'The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson'. As Twain explains, he extricated 'Twins' from 'Pudd'nhead' when he found, as he was writing, that he'd created a farce inside a tragedy. This is the excised farce, a story about Italian Siamese twins who completely take over a small Missouri town, splitting it down the middle with half supporting one head and the other, the other. (Introduction by John Greenman) more

Eve's Diary is a comic short story by Mark Twain. It was first published in the 1905 Christmas issue of the magazine Harper's Bazaar, and in book format in June 1906 by Harper and Brothers publishing house. It is written in the style of a diary kept by the first woman in the Judeao-Christian creation myth, Eve, and is claimed to be 'translated from the original MS.' The 'plot' of this novel is the first-person account of Eve from her creation up to her burial by, her mate, Adam, including meeting and getting to know Adam, and exploring the world around her, Eden. The story then jumps 40 years into the future after the Fall and expulsion from Eden. It is one of a series of books Twain wrote concerning the story of Adam and Eve, including 'Extracts from Adam's Diary,' 'That Day In Eden,' 'Eve Speaks,' 'Adam's Soliloquy,' and the 'Autobiography of Eve.' Eve's Diary has a lighter tone than the others in the series, as Eve has a strong appreciation for beauty and love. The book may have been written as a posthumous love-letter to Mark Twain's wife Olivia Langdon Clemens, or Livy, who died in June 1904, just before the story was written. Mark Twain is quoted as saying, 'Eve's Diary is finished — I've been waiting for her to speak, but she doesn't say anything more.' The story ends with Adam's speaking at Eve's grave, 'Wherever she was, there was Eden.' (Introduction by Wikipedia) more

This second collection of essays by Mark Twain is a good example of the diversity of subject matter about which he wrote. As with the essays in Volume 1, many first appeared alone, in magazines or newspapers, before being printed as chapters of his larger works, while others were taken from larger works and reprinted in collections of essays. On top of being prolific, Mark Twain was a very successful marketer of his works. Volume 2 contains the following works: 1.) 'A Curious Experience' - 1892 2.) 'The Heart of a Humorist' - 1900 3.) 'How Tom Sawyer Got His Fence Whitewashed'- 1876 4.) 'Jim Smiley's Frog' - 1870 5.) 'Luck' - 1891 6.) 'A Dog's Tale' - 1904 7.) 'Lost in the Snow' - 1888 8.) 'Mark Twain on Overspeeding' - 1908 9.) 'A Medieval Romance' 1907 (Summary by John Greenman) more

This third volume of Mark Twain's journal writings continues on eclectic and varied path established by the first two volumes. Included in this collection are works that appeared by themselves in magazines during Twain's lifetime, as well as essays taken by editors and Twain himself from Twain's larger works, and re-published in collections of his stories. This volume includes the following works: 'Buying Gloves in Gibraltar', 'The great revolution in Pitcairn', 'A Gift from India' [including editor's notes about Twain's need to go on the lecture circuit, his authorship of Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc and other items], 'From India to South Africa', 'The Esquimau Maiden's Romance', 'At the Appetitecure', 'Edward Mills and George Benton: A Tale', 'Does the Race of Man Love a Lord?' (Introduction by John Greenman) more

Talks about Huck Finn!

Not Just Good, Better

Get the true story of Adam and Eve, straight from the source. This humorous text is a day-to-day account of Adam's life from happiness in the 'GARDEN-OF-EDEN' to their fall from grace and the events thereafter. Learn how Eve caught the infant Cain, and Adam takes some time to learn exactly what it is. more

Four men who say that they have gold and they are the real brothers.

Written for the Atlantic magazine in 1877, this is a collection of stories about a trip Mark Twain made with some friends to Bermuda. (Summary by John Greenman) more

One of the most controversial pieces of the 19th Century, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by American author Mark Twain has come to be studied in the nation's education system as a period piece. However, can students really understand the realities of the period by reading this satire? Follow along with the guys as they take a refreshingly deep dive into how the text really fits into the 19th Century that it has come to represent, discuss interesting nuances of the plot, talk with guest speakers, and so much more. more

Literature Channel where we explore many different novels and my take on them and answer analytical questions in order for readers to better understand the novel's chapters. Also includes explanations of evidence and extras! Welcome! more

Eve's Diary is a humorous monologue about Eve's experiences at the dawn of creation. She is fascinated by every aspect of the new world around her and… Adam! The following is an extract from Adam: 'She is all interest, eagerness, vivacity, the world is to her a charm, a wonder, a mystery, a joy; she can't speak for delight when she finds a new flower, she must pet it and caress it and smell it and talk to it…. And she is color-mad: brown rocks, yellow sand, gray moss, green foliage, blue sky…none of them is of any practical value, so far as I can see, but because they have color and majesty, that is enough for her, and she loses her mind over them…. If there is anything on the planet that she is not interested in, it is not in my list.' (Summary by Esther Lockwood) more

If you've ever studied German (and maybe even if you haven't), you're likely to find this short essay to be hilarious. Published as Appendix D from Twain's 1880 book A Tramp Abroad, this comedic gem outlines the pitfalls one will encounter when trying to wrap one's mind around the torturous German cases, adjective endings, noun genders, and verb placement.(Summary by Kara) more

Mark Twain pulls no punches while exposing the 'real' Percy Shelley in this scathing condemnation of Edward Dowden's 'Life of Shelley'. Even though, as Twain writes, 'Shelley's life has the one indelible blot upon it, but is otherwise worshipfully noble and beautiful', Twain shows how Shelley's extra-marital conduct might easily be seen to have been the cause of his wife Harriet's suicide. (Introduction by John Greenman) more

'The Stolen White Elephant' was written by Mark Twain and published in 1882. In it, an Indian elephant, en route from India to Britain as a gift to the Queen, disappears in New Jersey. The local police department goes into high gear to solve the mystery but it all comes to a tragic end. (Summary by Wikipedia & John Greenman) more

Huck Finn and Jim

Interview with Mark Twain and Huck Finn

'Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven' is a short-story written by American writer Mark Twain and published in 1909. The story follows Captain Stormfield on his extremely long cosmic journey to heaven, his accidental misplacement, his short-lived interest in singing and playing the harp, and the obsession of souls with the 'celebrities' of heaven, like Adam and Moses, whom, according to Twain, become as distant to most people in heaven as living celebrities are on Earth. Twain uses this story to show his view that the common conception of heaven is ludicrous and points out the incongruities of such beliefs. (from Wikipedia) more

In the afterlife grizzled sea captain Eli Stormfield finds himself piloting a ship to heaven. Despite a detour and some navigation errors he arrives but finds the transition to heavenly bliss a little disconcerting. Although first drafted in the late 1870's this story did not see print until the December 1907 and January 1908 issues of 'Harper's Magazine'. The next year it was made available as a Christmas gift book and represents the last volume Mark Twain published in his lifetime. (Summary by Gregg Margarite) more

In this Mark Twain short story an Indian elephant, en route from India to Britain as a gift to Queen, disappears in New Jersey. The local police department goes into high gear to solve the mystery but it all comes to a tragic end.(Summary written by Kristen McQuillin) more

This was the last story published by Twain, a few months before he died. The story follows Captain Elias Stormfield on his extremely long cosmic journey to heaven. It deals with the obsession of souls with the 'celebrities' of heaven, like Adam and Moses, who according to Twain become as distant to most people in heaven as living celebrities are on Earth. Twain uses this story to show his view that the common conception of heaven is ludicrous and points out the incongruities of such beliefs.A lot of the description of Heaven is given by the character Sandy McWilliams, a cranberry farmer who is very experienced in the ways of heaven. The heaven described by him is similar to the conventional Christian heaven, but includes a larger version of all the locations on Earth, as well as of everywhere in the universe. Once in heaven, the person spends eternity living as he thinks best, usually according to his true (sometimes undiscovered) talent. According to one of the characters, a cobbler who 'has the soul of a poet in him won't have to make shoes here', implying that he would instead turn to poetry and achieve perfection in it.As Stormfield proceeds through heaven, he learns that his pre-conceptions of 'heaven' are all wrong and a good part of the fun of the tale comes from Twain's revealing the 'true facts' about what heaven is and how it works. (Introduction by Wikipedia and John Greenman) more

We talk about Huck Finn chapters 1-6 Cover art photo provided by Daniel Hjalmarsson on Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/@artic_studios more

Exploring how Mark Twain's depiction of slavery in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn relates to modern society and why the book should be taught. more

Listen to our podcast about the hero of Huckleberry Finn.

Talking about the novel Huckleberry Finn

Review of Mark Twain's huckleberry Finn

CHAPTER 31 OF THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN

How parental views affect children in Huckleberry Finn and in our own personal experience

Podcast about Huckleberry Finn chapters one through 10 Cover art photo provided by Martin Sanchez on Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/@martinsanchez more

This podcast emphasizes Huck's personality and shows why we acts based on his surroundings. Cover art photo provided by JJ Ying on Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/@jjying more

Cassette Say's?Audio?Books platform where you'll discover free ?? audiobooks upcoming author interviews & book reviews! Join the amazing new family and connect with the people with similar interest who ❤️ listening, reading, writing, & discussing all things book related. (Don't forget to follow this podcast for daily new podcasts episodes). more

Public Domain newspaper articles in the US span a period of nearly two and a half centuries. Subjects, styles, period, publisher, and length vary greatly. This collection is a sampling of twenty such articles including one from the Journal de Paris. more

Known as the Canadian Mark Twain, Stephen Leacock was a humorist whose gentle parodies and spoofs still evoke a smile and a chuckle more than a hundred years after they were first published.Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town was published in 1912. Set in the fictional town of Mariposa in Canada, which is peopled by a delightful assortment of characters, the book has proved to be an enduring classic in the humor genre.Readers around the world continue to enjoy these little stories about the inhabitants of Mariposa because Leacock portrays people whom we have all met at some time or the other in our own lives. The universal appeal of Sunshine Sketches... lies in the amusing situations that Mariposans find themselves in and their exaggerated sense of their own self-importance! Characters like John Smith, the owner of the town's only hotel, Golgotha Gingham the undertaker, Henry Mullins the pompous manager of the Mariposa Exchange Bank, the giddy-headed Zena Pepperleigh whose love of romantic novels leads her into all kinds of conundrums and the bashful Peter Pupkin who loves her from afar and many others provide hours of amusement and fun for young and old readers alike.The book has been twice adapted for television and has become a very successful mini-series on CBC. Radio and stage adaptations round the world have made the little town of Mariposa familiar to people everywhere. Leacock himself recounts that Mariposa is based on some eighty or ninety small towns across America and Canada and the characters are composites of people he met throughout his career as a teacher, political scientist and author. He first began writing as a student when he contributed short sketches to local journals.Sunshine Sketches... is indeed a delightful addition to your bookshelf! more

I read stories for people when they can't handle themselves with their life.

This long essay is a work of mock philology, one of several appendices to Twain's travel novel, A Tramp Abroad. In it, Twain explains, complains about, and shows how one might improve upon various aspects of the (awful) German language. His examples of precisely how the German language is awful include the famed 'separable verb' which allows one to put the first part of a given verb at the beginning and its second part at the end of a given clause or sentence (which may, indeed, be very long). He also makes fun of the extreme length of certain compound nouns (which are created by tacking two or more words together, without using hyphens to clarify where one ends and the next begins), as well as the many noun and verb forms one must master (memorize) in order to use German cases properly.As the essay progresses, Twain includes a few hilarious passages that are partly or mostly in (his own, awful) German. Nevertheless, the work is easily understandable even by people who don't know any German at all.(In the novel, A Tramp Abroad, Twain details his journey with his friend, Harris, through Germany, the Alps, and Italy, where he encounters various ridiculous situations. Here, much of the humor lies in his silly, often over-stated characterization of the circumstances as quickly grasped and easily explained by such a seasoned tourist as himself, while he also make plain throughout the profoundly strange nature of many of his experiences, and the various pitfalls he and Harris run into as they try to navigate their unfamiliar terrain.) (Introduction by Kirsten Wever) more

In this podcast, I will narrate one chapter of the amazing Tom Sawyer. 'THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER : CHAPTER 4' more

Collection of short essays concerning French novelist and critic Paul Bourget. Included: 'What Paul Bourget Thinks of Us' and 'A Little Note to M. Paul Bourget'. (Summary by John Greenman) more

Situational irony in Huckleberry Finn

Hey !! Literature Junkies ,If You are Finding The Audible Summary Of All Literature Books Then You are At Right Stop. PustakVani Presents The One Stop Solution For Audible Summary | Plot Overview Of Books by Famous Authors. more

Join me as we read through books with mini summaries between chapters and discussions at the end of each book. Our next book would be selected based on your inputs and forums to discuss and contribute to the show are more than welcome making this a truely interactive podcast. more

داستان های جالب علمی از زبان دو متعلم مکتب!

Albert Bigelow Paine was Samuel Langhorne Clemens' (Mark Twain's) biographer. He lived with Twain, collecting ideas and material for a biography, for a few years before Twain's death in 1910. Six years later Paine published this 'story of a man who made the world laugh and love him'.For those who have read or listened to Mark Twain's works, Paine's work is an invaluable resource to better understand Twain, the stories behind his stories and his life with those he loved and with whom he worked. (Summary by John Greenman) more

Join Mark Twain on a hilarious, offbeat journey through Europe in A Tramp Abroad. With his trademark wit and keen eye for the absurd, Twain recounts his travels across Germany, the Alps, and Italy—where mishaps, misunderstandings, and culture clashes abound. Intended as a walking tour but filled with detours, Twain's adventure is part travelogue, part satire, and entirely entertaining. Whether he's attempting to master the art of yodeling or poking fun at European customs, Twain's observations make for a laugh-out-loud read. A must-listen for fans of classic humor and travel tales. more

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) by Mark Twain is one of the truly great American novels, beloved by children, adults, and literary critics alike. The book tells the story of 'Huck' Finn (first introduced as Tom Sawyer's sidekick in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer), his friend Jim, and their journey down the Mississippi River on a raft. Both are on the run, Huck from his drunk and abusive father, and Jim as a runaway slave.As Huck and Jim drift down the river, they meet many colorful characters and have many great adventures. The true heart of the story, however, is the friendship between Huck and Jim. A constant theme throughout the book is Huck's internal struggle between what he has been taught, that helping a runaway slave is a sin, and what he truly believes, that Jim is a good man and it couldn't possibly be wrong to help him.Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was unique at the time of its publication (1884) because it is narrated by Huck himself and is written in the numerous dialects common in the area and time in which the book is set. Although the book was originally intended as a sequel to the children's book The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, as Twain wrote Adventures of Huckleberry Finn it progressed into a more serious work. Twain's views on slavery and other social issues of the time become clear through the words, thoughts, and actions of Huck Finn. The book has always been the subject of great controversy, and according to The American Library Association it was fifth on the list of most frequently challenged books in the 1990s.(Summary by Annie Coleman) more

A book of short stories and humorous anecdotes by Mark Twain

The Mark Twain Classics Podcast presents a collection of his most celebrated works, bringing to life his sharp wit, social commentary, and unforgettable characters. more

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, written by Mark Twain and first published in 1876, is a quintessential American novel that follows the mischievous and imaginative Tom Sawyer, a young boy living in the fictional town of St. Petersburg, Missouri, along the Mississippi River. Set in the mid-19th century, the story chronicles Tom's adventures as he navigates the joys and challenges of childhood, mischief, and moral growth.Tom is a clever boy with a knack for getting into trouble, often accompanied by his loyal friend, Huckleberry Finn. His antics include tricking other boys into doing his chores, running away to live as a pirate, and uncovering hidden treasure. As the novel unfolds, Tom's character matures as he faces significant events, such as witnessing a murder in a graveyard and confronting complex moral dilemmas.The novel explores themes of innocence, friendship, and the conflict between societal expectations and personal freedom. Twain's witty and vivid depiction of small-town life, along with Tom's adventures, makes this a timeless and captivating story. Summary by Dream AudioBooks more

Timeless Mark Twain Stories offers a delightful selection of his best-loved tales, blending humor and adventure with thought-provoking insights into human nature. more

Journey through America's past with Mark Twain Audiobooks, a collection of humorous, insightful, and adventurous stories that capture the spirit of the nation. more