• How to Tell a Story and Other Essays

  • By: Mark Twain
  • Narrated by: Brian Troxell
  • Length: 47 mins
  • 3.7 out of 5 stars (199 ratings)

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How to Tell a Story and Other Essays

By: Mark Twain
Narrated by: Brian Troxell
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Editorial reviews

One of America's most renowned storytellers, Mark Twain was not stingy with sharing his techniques. In the audiobook How to Tell a Story and Other Essays, Twain delves primarily into how to tell humorous (as opposed to comic or witty) stories, that most difficult of narrative genres.

Voice talent Brian Troxell tells stories like "The Golden Arm" and "The Wounded Soldier" almost as successfully as Twain might have done, while simultaneously delivering Twain's instructions as he proceeds. In other words, Troxell both pauses and ensures that the listener notes the pauses. "The Golden Arm", which sounds like a campfire story supplemented with stage directions, is written in so-called Negro dialect, and is much easier to hear than to read.

Publisher's summary

American writer Samuel Clemens, better known by his pen name Mark Twain, has given us some literary gems with Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and his travel adventures in 19th-century Europe and to Australia and New Zealand. In How to Tell a Story and Other Essays, Twain discusses the telling of stories, rather than providing more stories. Humor, Twain says, is American while comic is English and witty is French. He follows this typically brilliant essay with examples of storytelling and some intriguing experiences of "mental telegraphy".

Public Domain (P)2012 Audible, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about How to Tell a Story and Other Essays

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Great Stuff!!

Would you listen to How to Tell a Story and Other Essays again? Why?

Yes! Timeless and counter-intuitive wisdom from an American Treasure.

What was one of the most memorable moments of How to Tell a Story and Other Essays?

The title essay was very interesting. I had never considered joke telling in this way.

Which scene was your favorite?

NA

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

NA

Any additional comments?

NA

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3 people found this helpful

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Does not disappoint! Very funny!

Both the storytelling of Mr. Clemens and the reading of Mr. Troxell make this a laugh-out-loud and very fast 47 minutes! Doubtless Mark Twain is one of history's most comic geniuses!

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nothing beats the down to earth Twain

I only wish it was longer! Narration was excellent, Mr. Troxell brought Twain's words to life!

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Not impressed at all

I learned very little from this essay except one good joke. To be honest, I don' think this essay is worth the time to listen to or the money spent on it. Never the less, I did and I accept what little I got from it.

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title not descript

Enjoyable but you learn how to tell a story. It starts with a brief overview of humor vs comedy vs wit.

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Misleading title

This was not what I expected. I Wasted my time. I do not recommend this

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