Old Man River

Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Well, this has been on my To Read list for a while, and a recent perusal of my bookshelves turned it up so i picked it up. Having spent a fair amount of time in Missouri, i'm glad i read it. The book is a conglomeration of different pieces, patched together into a volume containing much information related to the Mississippi River from the perspective of the famous author Mark Twain. I enjoyed his insight into the skills and knowledge required of the steamboat pilot, an occupation he had earlier in his life. I also enjoyed the political, social, and historical commentary of Twain in the latter part of the book which is primarily Twain's travel diary and "blog" as he returns to the Mississippi River after decades of international travel and learning. His wit and attitude are enjoyable to read, and his views are interesting, he having been raised on the river and then returning to it after decades of travel and education. The book drags at times, but also provides insights which may be hard to find anywhere else. How many steamboat pilots become internationally famous and published authors? There are many interesting subjects covered related to a wide range of topics relevant in the second half of the 19th century. All in all, this book is a great read, despite the dragging parts. I'm thankful that the native American legend of "The Undying Head" was relegated to Appendix D - it was all i could do to get through that one. This is a great read if you like Twain, or are interested in the history and legend surrounding "Old Man River".

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