Life on the Mississippi [Blackstone]

Life on the Mississippi may at first seem strange: bits of history, geology and folklore all mixed up and told with Twain’s characteristically sardonic wit. But then you realize that Twain crafted a new literary form: while telling the story of his youthful and mature travels along the river he is actually making you feel like you’re on a steamboat navigating mid-19th century America.It’s really a subtly ingenious work. It can be read merely for the pictures of Americana. Or it can be read for its perspective on the Reconstruction era South.But it’s really best read as if Twain is your companion on the river—pointing out landmarks, telling a yarn about the old days and describing the cities the river meanders by. Once you catch on, Life on the Mississippi is not only cultural history, it’s literature.Huckleberry Finn is not the only work where Twain crafted a new form of American literature. Life on the Mississippi can be said to have crafted a new type of travelogue; where the author not only narrates his experiences but actually immerses you in the sites themselves. Highly recommended.

First of all, it's Twain. So it is very funny. It is also an important historical look at the place the Mississippi River holds in American economic and cultural development, and also Twain's personal history and growth as a man. Twain loved the Mississippi and so the book is about the river in all its moods and constant changes. To Twain, the river is a living thing. The first part of the book is an autobiographical look at Twain's upbringing and his training as a riverboat pilot with all its vicissitudes, followed by a 20 year jump during which Twain lost his piloting job, beat around at odd jobs, became a reporter and then a best-selling and famous author. Then in part two Twain embarks on a journey as a passenger on one of the last riverboats, after the Civil War and the advent of railroads and barge fleets has reduced the riverboat fleet and the parallel development of the great cities of the Mississippi valley's commercial lifeblood.As I said, Twain, and therefore both parts of the book are reported with great clarity, an eye for detail, a broad look, and a constantly manifest eye for the quirks and foibles of the riverboat men and the great river they serve. A vital piece of Twain's work and I most heartily recommend it.Trigger warning: Twain was a southerner, and his work reflects the racial assumptions of his time.

I was sort of looking forward to the book having the "old-timey" cover as shown on the product image, but instead, the book is a more staid green with gold foil. It is actually quite nice and will look great on my book shelf, when I am finished reading the book. The book was a collectible, book club edition and is in pristine condition. As it is over 30 years old, I expected yellowed pages, but there are none. The only thing that I don't like is the cushioned covers. It is not that bad, but I prefer my hard covers to be solid... Again,will look great on the book shelf.The book itself is one that I've wanted to read or years, but have not had the gumption to seek it out. After re-reading Tom Sawyer and then Huckleberry Finn for the 4th or 5th time, I pulled the trigger and only regret that I had not read this book years earlier. I love the outtake from Huckleberry Finn and the story telling style. The part where Mark Twain tells of going back to St. Louis to re-visit the river and take a steamboat trip in order to write the book is full of a familiar feeling of melancholy as he observes that the heydey of the Steamers is gone..... We can see that same thing happening today with once mighty industries being slowly but surely replaced with newer...... I like to re-read many of the passages and upon completion of this will FINALLY take the initiative to dig deeper into the Samuel Clemens/Mark Twain canon.

Compared to his other classics such as THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN and TOM SAWYER the pace of the novel is predictable. Mr Twain seemingly has no understanding of the history of Europe and his constant undermining of history gets tiresome. If it had been so easy to transform a class of people it would all ready have been done. Granted we are talking and reading about a time when America was striving hard to be a one class society (can't believe that thought ever really occurred). Perhaps my age has seeped into my rereading of this classic, as a young teen it had seemed just so possible.

This book is a great way to spend time in imagination, a testament to ingenuity. It will give you a chance to evaluate what is important to you. Awesome read, too.

Historical fiction, social satire, sharp observations about the weakness of human nature, humor, tragedy - all can be fond here in this Twain classic.

Mark Twain is one of our most beloved American authors. And for good reason. Not many people can spin a yarn better than he, and not many people can introduce us to characters we will never forget. Life on the Mississippi is probably not his strongest work, but it is still quintessentially Twain. He introduces us to his adventures on the Mississippi River, an iconic American landmark, which he obviously reveres. Through his adventures on steamboats, he shows us how the river is constantly changing, and challenging the pilots who steer the gorgeous steamboats. He was a pilot himself who steered the big boats during the time before electricity lit up the river at night. We learn of the challenges of steering up or down Big Muddy during storms fraught with wind and lightning. We learn about the integrity of the pilots who were always the last to leave a ship engulfed in flames. When Twain is telling us about the Mississippi, he can have you in the palm of his hand. However, in the latter part of the book, he veers off this subject a bit and talks of life in the South at the time, and, sadly, I became a bit bored. It pains me to admit this. But this book is still well worth the read, even if you only scan the slower parts. After all, it is Mark Twain!

Mark Twain is the penultimate American writer at a time when America was just finding her premier place globally.

Took a Mississippi road trip from Memphis to New Orleans and the book was extremely helpful with the size, shape, hirtage and ever changing nature of the river.It was full of useful little stories that give a flavour of past lives , told with great panache by one of America's greatest authors. You really need to get a sense of size of the river and its flood plain and this is the book that helps do it, and tells how a River Pilot through sheer determination mastered his art.The books mixed culture, the civil war and its long term legacy on Civil Rights, the ever changing landscape with something of a prophesy of the future into a still highly readable book. This is a great companion to more modern books on the Great Riverand highly recommended if you want a good introduction the US.

I enjoy reading Mark Twain but this book is about a river. It starts telling of Twain's days as an apprentice steamboat pilot and this is probably the best part of the book. But then it turns to describing how the towns on the Mississippi have changed and stating a lot of facts and figures on prices etc.I prefer the wit and charm of Mark Twain, sorry this one was not for me.

Interesting for part of the Mississippi from St/ Louis to New Orleans, but drags on towards the end. Possibly more interesting for someone familiar with the Mississippi. Surprised at his criticism of Sir Walter Scott which maybe effected my judgement.

Knowing nothing at all about America's biggest river, I have really enjoyed this book, although I skipped some passages. Very readable social history!

Started reading this as a result of reading George r r martins 'fevre' dream,and wanted to get back to some source material about the steamboat trade in the mid 19th material.it's actually a pretty good read!