Life on the Mississippi

A classic memoir from America’s greatest humorist, Life on the Mississippi chronicles Mark Twain’s years as a young riverboat pilot navigating the “fickle Mississippi” — a time he recalls as the happiest in his life. Twenty-one years after his days sailing it, Twain gives a trenchant account, both heartfelt and boisterous, of the changes wrought by advances in navigation and transportation technologies and of the profound cultural effects that ensued. Written with a touching sense of longing and Twain’s trademark wry wit, and featuring a new Introduction by Bill McKibben, this magnificent American travelogue is a spellbinding tale of a man’s love affair with both a river and the country it divides. It is a kaleidoscope of local color, lively characterizations, and a rich historical detail.