{"product_id":"mark-twains-1884-john-bird-9780826223579","title":"Mark Twain's 1884: A Pivotal Year in the Life","description":"Many biographies of Mark Twain cover his entire life, while others focus on specific periods, especially his later years. In this innovative new work, John Bird takes an entirely different approach. \u003ci\u003eMark Twain's 1884: A Pivotal Year in the Life \u003c\/i\u003eis a \"micro-biography\" that homes in on a single--and pivotal--year. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In 1884, Twain stood at the height of his powers as a writer and enjoyed one of the happiest years in his domestic family life. During the course of the year he was readying his greatest work, \u003ci\u003eAdventures of Huckleberry Finn\u003c\/i\u003e, for publication, which occurred in England near the end of the year; he was launching his own publishing house, Charles L. Webster and Company, after becoming disillusioned with his previous publishers; and he publicly embroiled himself in presidential politics in a way that presaged his later involvement with American and international politics. Finally, Twain's 1884 ended with a great deal more public exposure thanks to an extensive multi-city lecture tour he undertook with Geroge Washington Cable, as well as the beginnings of his ultimately successful attempt to secure publishing rights for Ulysses S. Grant's memoirs. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e The level of detail provided by a day-to-day narrative gives the reader a chance to imaginatively live that year in Twain's life: his work, his family life, his correspondence, his business dealings, his travels, his recreational pursuits, and his political involvement. Bird enlarges upon a great many moments in and aspects of Twain's life that other biographies barely touch on or ignore completely. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In this new approach to biography, Bird gives readers a broader appreciation not only of Mark Twain the author but of Mark Twain the husband, father, uncle, and friend, and national celebrity and persona. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e John Bird\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0826223575\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780826223579\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University of Missouri Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/22\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 482\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover","brand":"John Bird","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":48447063425279,"sku":"9780826223579","price":55.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_3f02a651-f9db-4224-8b38-5c13c5b85f22.jpg?v=1777228568","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/mark-twains-1884-john-bird-9780826223579","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}