Tales, Speeches, Essays and Sketches (Penguin Classics) Book

Samuel Clemens still stuns in whatever form he chooses--the fable, the essay, the speech, sketch, or one-liner ("The very ink with which all history is written is merely fluid prejudice."). This fine collection features several hilarious pieces, including a story in the early, lighter section by "Grandfather Twain"--about "a bad little boy, whose name was Jim--though, if you will notice, you will find that bad little boys are nearly always called James in your Sunday-school books.... He didn't have a sick mother either--a sick mother who was pious and had the consumption, and would be glad to lie down in the grave and be at rest, but for the strong love she bore her boy ..." In his later years, though parody and bleak humor abound, Twain extended his range from animal rights to anti-imperialism, from bitterness to despair. "To the Person Sitting in Darkness" remains a powerful, immediate indictment of America's colonial annexation of the Philippines. His suggested flag for the province? Just the usual one, "with the white stripes painted black and the stars replaced by the skull and cross-bones."Read More