Life on the MississippiLife on the Mississippi 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 River 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, Horace E. Bixby. 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". Although Twain was actually 21 when he began his training, he uses artistic license to make himself seem somewhat younger, referring to himself as a "fledgling" and a "boy" who "ran away from home" to seek his fortune on the river, and playing up his own callowness and naïveté. 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. |
Contents
The Boys Ambition | |
A Cubpilots Experience | |
Perplexing Lessons | |
Completing My Education | |
Sounding | |
Rank and Dignity of Piloting | |
Chapter 31 | |
Chapter 32 | |
Chapter 34 | |
Chapter 36 | |
Chapter 39 | |
Chapter 42 | |
Chapter 45 | |
Chapter 47 | |
Racing Days | |
Take a Few Extra Lessons | |
Chapter 20 | |
Chapter 23 | |
Chapter 25 | |
Chapter 27 | |
Chapter 29 | |
Chapter 50 | |
Chapter 52 | |
Chapter 54 | |
Chapter 56 | |
Chapter 59 | |
APPENDIX | |
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Life on the Mississippi: A Charming Depiction of a Bygone Era in American ... Mark Twain No preview available - 2022 |
Common terms and phrases
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