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Mark Twain's Life On The Mississippi

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Mark Twain's Life On The Mississippi
Life on the Mississippi: Summary & Analysis

''Life on the Mississippi'' by Mark Twain is a biographical memoir of his experiences written as he learned to pilot a steamboat on the Mississippi River. Also included is a personal narration of Twain's voyage from St. Louis, Missouri to New Orleans, Louisiana. Travel Twain's path through this lesson of expanded horizons that helped to further define Mark Twain's literary career.

Mark Twain Meets the Mighty Mississippi

Introduction

Between the bindings of the book Life on the Mississippi, you will find a personal account of Mark Twain's adventures on the Mississippi River, first as a novice steamboat pilot and then as a passenger chronicling his own observances of the happenings from St. Louis to New Orleans. Within more than 600 pages that are divided into sixty chapters, Mark Twain's realistic, down-to-earth views of everything he sees transform a …show more content…
By bestowing human characteristics upon this body of water, he reiterates its history reverently and proudly; he learns to pilot its waters with great care and specific detail. Travel, a theme that is also present in many of Twain's other literary works, is abundant in this one as well. His attention to and inclusion of details chronicling his journeys demonstrates his enjoyment of and fondness for broadening his horizons through his apparent wanderlust. Another obvious theme in this book is that of progress, both personal and geographical. Closely observing his surroundings during his trip from St. Louis to New Orleans and during his visit to his childhood home of Hannibal, Missouri, Twain is able to note the changes that have come about since his last visit. Through his dreams, adventures, mistakes, and triumphs, we are permitted much the same view of Mark Twain's personal growth as
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