The Bedside, Bathtub & Armchair Companion to Mark Twain: Bedside, Bathtub & Armchair Companions

This entertaining survey of Twainiana is a tribute to the world's first global celebrity and most quotable American. Chock full of illustrations, the lively text follows Sam Clemens from his early days as a "printer's devil" to his Mark Twain days as a "devil's advocate." Provided here are summaries of Twain's works, long and short; a filmography; a crossword puzzle based on Twain's colorful quips; a map of Huck and Jim's trip down the Mississippi River; and short takes on long controversies. Pam McAllister (who has co-authored books in the Companion series on Shakespeare, Agatha Christie, and Sherlock Holmes), answers such questions as:

? Why did Twain stop going to school when he was only twelve?
? What national catastrophe ended his stint as a riverboat pilot?
? What public humiliation inspired him to move his family to Europe for ten years?
? What book did he think was his best? (Hint: the main character is a girl!)
? Where is there a toilet seat with the sign mark twain sat here?

YOU KNOW that Mark Twain's real name was Sam Clemens,
     BUT DID YOU KNOW that he...
~ is believed to be the first author to submit a typewritten manuscript?
~ had red hair, a funny talk, and an odd (Chaplainesque) waddle-walk?
~ started smoking at age 7 and often smoked 40 cigars a day?
~ was born (two months premature) under Halley's comet and died at the comet's next return?

YOU KNOW all about Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn,
 BUT DID YOU KNOW that Twain ....
~ died in 1910, but had a newly-published bestseller in 1962?
~ wrote science fiction stories, (including several gender-benders) as well as an antiwar book, several animal-rights stories, and a number of anti-imperialist rants?
~ once sardonically suggested that the U.S. change its flag from the stars and stripes to the skull and crossbones?
~ wrote about television and long-distance telephoning before these were invented?
~ was initially best known for his travel books?