Publisher's Synopsis
This brilliant book provides a rare glimpse into an important chapter in Mark Twain's life before he became the most popular humorist of his time. Recounting his days as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River, he offers a wide range of commentary, from picturesque views of antebellum life along the river to the harrowing experience of piloting a ship through winding channels in the dead of nig. The popular 19th-century humorist offers lively recollections ranging from his salad days as a novice steamboat pilot on one of the world's greatest rivers to views from the passenger deck in the twilight of the river culture's heyday. Engrossing and entertaining anecdotes by a peerless storyteller from a now-finished chapter of American history.
