Mark Twain: Man in White

The Grand Adventure of His Final Years

By: Michael Shelden

Narrated by: Andrew Garman

Length: 17 hrs

Publisher's summary

Pulitzer Prize finalist Michael Shelden illuminates Mark Twain’s twilight years in this brilliant account of the legendary author’s life. Drawing heavily on Twain’s own letters and journals, Mark Twain: Man in White recounts both Twain’s private family experiences and his larger-than-life public image.

©2010 Michael Shelden (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"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)

"[Twain's] wit ultimately reflects personal resilience in the face of financial reverses and family tragedy. Even on his deathbed, Twain rallies to bid farewell with wisecracks. Impressive scholarship delivers the authentic accents of a truly American voice." ( Booklist)

Fantastic book

Shelden's book about the last period of Mark Twain's life is one of the best books about Twain I've ever read. Incidents that are often reduced to summary sentences (like the burglary of Twain's home Stormfield) are here given full (and exciting) narrative treatment. The people surrounding Twain, usually treated as second-class citizens or even footnotes, emerge as living people: his surviving daughters, Clara and Jean; his secretary Isabel Lyon; his financial champion Henry Rogers; even the two men who break into Stormfield, only to flee in a hail of gunfire. (They were later caught and tried, and Twain testified at the trial.)

Shelden goes to great lengths to counter the image of Twain as a bitter and isolated old man. This was no King Lear, raging at the gods in broken grandeur. Yes, there were dark moments in Twain's writing, and they grew darker as he grew older, and Shelden takes it into account; but he also traces Twain's movements and interactions in great detail: and Twain was a man who, to the end of his life, was ALWAYS moving and interacting. Shelden also gains perspective by comparing some of these darker writings to similar attitudes expressed throughout Twain's life. The contrast isn't so much between Twain the young and happy humorist and Twain the old and bitter philosopher; it's between Twain the life-long bitter philosopher and Twain the convivial host, cat-lover, and incorrigible practical joker.

Andrew Garman's narration is excellent. I highly recommend the book.

My only regret is that one of the loveliest images in the published book didn't, and couldn't, make it into the audiobook. The book includes a photograph of Twain on Rogers' yacht -- he actually did a fair amount of sailing with Rogers in those last years -- teeth clamped down on a cigar, bowler hat on head, grinning like a monkey. Some misanthrope.

Final Years of an American Icon

It's not how you begin the race, but how you finish it that matters. Mark Twain finished well. Though his final years were marked with much sadness and betrayal, he stayed true to himself, and his humor and wit remained with him to the end.

RECOMMEND

This is a fascinating study of USA’s quirkiest of characters. The author explores Mark Twain’s life in his declining years, up to the very end he was a character. This is a chronicle of the last years of his life. His literary works had already made him famous. This is a period of flamboyance, triumph and tragedy.
The end is melancholic and sad.
Glad I read most of his books before I started this book.
My thanks to the author, the narrator and Audible to make this book available, JK.

A great look at Twain

The book is well researched and beautifully written. The author has a deep understanding and appreciation of Twain. The story arc is a sad but rich one--the older Twain facing the prospect of his own death and trying to live out his remaining days as fully as he can. Twain's exuberance and irrepressible wit crash continually against the realities of illness, betrayals of trust, the death of friends, and the struggles of children. There is a great sense of humanity in the book that I found interesting and enriching, in addition to the insight it offers into the life of one America's most interesting men. The narration was close to perfect.

Superb, honest, shocking, touching

Splendid writing, splendid narration. Sheldon focuses on the last few years of Mark Twain's life, but he folds in history and biography of Twain's earlier years while also sharing a detailed story of family, close friends, and confidants. You get up close and personal with the legendary Mark Twain and the human Sam Clemens.

I never grew bored while listening to the 17 hours of this book.

Amazing Tale of an Amazing Life

What made the experience of listening to Mark Twain: Man in White the most enjoyable?

After reading this story, I am convinced that Mark Twain is America's greatest treasure.

What other book might you compare Mark Twain: Man in White to and why?

This book was very well done. It had the feel of a David McCullough biography.

What does Andrew Garman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Andrew Garman is one of the best. Smooth, yet able to relay appropriate tone.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The story surrounding Twain's passing.

Any additional comments?

A "must have"

At last, a biography that captures Mark Twain's spirit

What did you love best about Mark Twain: Man in White?

I've read much by and about Twain, but I laughed out loud at Twain's comments more with this book than any other about him--even think it's better than Mark Twain's autobiographies. Perhaps I could have appreciated them more if I had read Michaell Sheldon's book first, since this book provides the back stories for Twain's autobiography.

What did you like best about this story?

One of the liveliest biographies I've ever read. It's as if I know what Mark Twain was really was like after reading this. Hated to finish this book because I knew his death was coming, and I'd miss him like an old friend.

What does Andrew Garman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Writing and narration were perfect. Excellent pacing throughout, especially when reading Mark Twain's quotes. Will look for more books with this reader.

Excellent.

This is an excellent book on the later years of Mark Twain's life. The anecdotes and tracking of Twain's later years inspired in me a new appreciation for the man and his brand of comedy. It created in interest in his stories that I did not previously have. The story is well read by Mr. Garman and he does not make a mockery of Twain nor of the book. Worth the listen to writers and fans of Mark Twain's work.

Mark Twain's Final Years

Michael Shelden in "Mark Twain: Man in White: The Grand Adventure of His Final Years" has made a welcome addition to what I label the "sunset years genre." In this book, Sheldon follows Mark Twain in his last few years of life allowing the reader to catch a glimpse of how a great man and author spent his last days on earth. The first half of the book digresses a few times relating stories of individuals who had a tangential entrrance into Twain's life, but those are also interesting. Most interesting is the second half which relates how Twain was cheated by trusted associates and family difficulties which he faced. The final chapters detailing his angina and final death are touching. Another book which relates the last years of an individual is David Eisenhower's memoir "Going Home to Glory" about his grandfather's post presidential years and his death. This book is also available from Audible and well worth the reader's time. Andrew Garman does an outstanding job reading "Mark Twain: Man in White."