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内容简介

　　One day in late 1906, seventy-one-year-old Mark Twain attendeda meeting on copyright law at the Library of Congress. The arrivalof the famous author caused the usual stir—but then Twain took offhis overcoat to reveal a "snow-white" tailored suit and scandalizedthe room. His shocking outfit appalled and delighted hiscontemporaries, but far more than that, as Pulitzer Prize finalistMichael Shelden shows in this wonderful new biography, Twain hadbrilliantly staged this act of showmanship to cement his image, andhis personal legend, in the public's imagination. That afternoon inWashington, less than four years before his death, marked thebeginning of a vibrant, tumultuous period in Twain's life thatwould shape much of the now-famous image by which he has come to beknown—America's indomitable icon, the Man in White.

One day in late 1906, seventy-one-year-old Mark Twain attended
a meeting on copyright law at the Library of Congress. The arrival
of the famous author caused the usual stir—but then Twain took off
his overcoat to reveal a "snow-white" tailored suit and scandalized
the room. His shocking outfit appalled and delighted his
contemporaries, but far more than that, as Pulitzer Prize finalist
Michael Shelden shows in this wonderful new biography, Twain had
brilliantly staged this act of showmanship to cement his image, and
his personal legend, in the public's imagination. That afternoon in
Washington, less than four years before his death, marked the
beginning of a vibrant, tumultuous period in Twain's life that
would shape much of the now-famous image by which he has come to be
known—America's indomitable icon, the Man in White.
　　Although Mark Twain has long been one of our most beloved
literary figures—Time magazine has declared him "our original
superstar"—his final years have been largely misunderstood. Despite
family tragedies, Twain's last half- decade was among the most
dynamic periods in the author's life. With the spirit and vigor of
a man fifty years younger, he continued to stir up trouble,
perfecting his skill for living large. Writing ceaselessly and
always ready with one of his legendary quips, Twain would risk his
fortune, become the willing victim of a lost-at-sea hoax, and pick
fights with King Leopold of Belgium and Mary Baker Eddy.
　　Drawing on a number of unpublished sources, including Twain's
own journals, letters, and a revealing four-hundred-page personal
account kept under wraps for decades (and still yet to be
published), Mark Twain: Man in White brings the legendary author's
twilight years vividly to life, offering surprising insights,
including an intimate, tender look at his family life. Filled with
first-rate scholarship, rare and never-published Twain photos,
delightful anecdotes, and memorable quotes, including numerous
recovered Twainisms, this definitive biography of Twain's last
years provides a remarkable portrait of the man himself and of the
unforgettable era in American letters that, in many ways, he helped
to create.

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作者简介

　　Michael Shelden is the author of three previous biographies, including Orwell, which was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. He was a correspondent for The Daily Telegraph (London) and a critic for the Baltimore Sun. He is currently a professor of English at Indiana State University.

媒体评论

　　Vivid and immersive and enormously readable, Man in Whiteseems to me the liveliest and best work of Twain biography inrecent memory.—Jon Clinch, author of Finn
　　
　　"Here is a well-researched book for all Twainiacs as well asthose coming to the subject's late years for the firsttime."—Publishers Weekly
　　
　　"Marvelous, haunting …A powerful evocation of a man full ofvigor, charm, charisma, and above all humor, even in the midst oflife's storms and earthquakes. Shelden weaves it all togethermasterfully with detective-like curiosity…a cunning criticalsensibility and a deep historical and scholarly expertise… A veryfine piece of biographical storytelling–and a pleasure toread."–Harold K. Bush, author of Mark Twain and the SpiritualCrisis of His Age
　　

Vivid and immersive and enormously readable, Man in White
seems to me the liveliest and best work of Twain biography in
recent memory.—Jon Clinch, author of Finn 
　　 
　　"Here is a well-researched book for all Twainiacs as well as
those coming to the subject's late years for the first
time."—Publishers Weekly 
　　 
　　"Marvelous, haunting …A powerful evocation of a man full of
vigor, charm, charisma, and above all humor, even in the midst of
life's storms and earthquakes. Shelden weaves it all together
masterfully with detective-like curiosity…a cunning critical
sensibility and a deep historical and scholarly expertise… A very
fine piece of biographical storytelling–and a pleasure to
read."–Harold K. Bush, author of Mark Twain and the Spiritual
Crisis of His Age 
　　 
　　"A genuine breakthrough in Mark Twain biography. Entirely revises
our thinking about Twain's final years, and does so in eloquent,
moving prose that brings every scene into vivid focus."–Alan
Gribben, American Literary Scholarship 
　　 
　　"Shelden uses unpublished sources, including Twain’s journals and
letters, to document the iconic author’s later years."—USA
Today 
　　 
　　"This superb biography, told in a nonacademic tone, is saturated
with sadness, but every reader will be grateful that, finally, Mark
Twain appears before us, warts and all. Highly
recommended."—Library Journal, starred 
　　 
　　“Impressive scholarship delivers the authentic accents of a truly
American voice.”—Booklist, starred

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