Europe and elsewhere by Mark Twain

(4 User reviews)   536
Twain, Mark, 1835-1910 Twain, Mark, 1835-1910
English
If you think you know Mark Twain as just the guy who wrote about boys on the Mississippi, think again. 'Europe and Elsewhere' is Twain unleashed, traveling the world with a sharp eye and an even sharper wit. This collection of travel writings is less about picturesque landscapes and more about the hilarious, often frustrating, reality of being an American abroad in the late 1800s. It's a masterclass in observation, where every grand cathedral and historic monument is met with Twain's signature skepticism and brilliant humor. You'll feel like you're right there with him, rolling your eyes at tour guides and finding the funny in the foreign.
Share

Read "Europe and elsewhere by Mark Twain" Online

This book is available in the public domain. Start reading the digital edition below.

START READING FULL BOOK
Instant Access    Mobile Friendly

Book Preview

A short preview of the book’s content is shown below to give you an idea of its style and themes.

This version of the text cannot represent certain typographical effects. Italics are delimited with the ‘_’ character (_italic_). Bold characters are delimited with the ‘=’ character. The few footnotes have been collected at the end of each chapter. Minor errors, attributable to the printer, have been corrected. Please see the transcriber’s note at the end of this text for details regarding the handling of any textual issues encountered during its preparation. EUROPE AND ELSEWHERE [Illustration] [Illustration: AND I ROSE TO RECEIVE MY GUEST, AND BRACED MYSELF FOR THE THUNDERCRASH AND THE BRIMSTONE STENCH WHICH SHOULD ANNOUNCE HIS ARRIVAL ] (_See p. 326_) EUROPE AND ELSEWHERE By MARK TWAIN WITH AN APPRECIATION BY BRANDER MATTHEWS AND AN INTRODUCTION BY ALBERT BIGELOW PAINE [Illustration] HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS NEW YORK AND LONDON ------------------------------------------------------------------------ EUROPE AND ELSEWHERE -------------- Copyright, 1923 By The Mark Twain Company Printed in the U.S.A. -------------- _First Edition_ E-X CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE AN APPRECIATION vii INTRODUCTION xxxi I. A MEMORABLE MIDNIGHT EXPERIENCE 1 II. TWO MARK TWAIN EDITORIALS 14 III. THE TEMPERANCE CRUSADE AND WOMAN’S RIGHTS 24 IV. O’SHAH 31 V. A WONDERFUL PAIR OF SLIPPERS 87 VI. AIX, THE PARADISE OF THE RHEUMATICS 94 VII. MARIENBAD--A HEALTH FACTORY 113 VIII. DOWN THE RHÔNE 129 IX. THE LOST NAPOLEON 169 X. SOME NATIONAL STUPIDITIES 175 XI. THE CHOLERA EPIDEMIC IN HAMBURG 186 XII. QUEEN VICTORIA’S JUBILEE 193 XIII. LETTERS TO SATAN 211 XIV. A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR OUR BLUSHING EXILES 221 XV. DUELING 225 XVI. SKELETON PLAN OF A PROPOSED CASTING VOTE PARTY 233 XVII. THE UNITED STATES OF LYNCHERDOM 239 XVIII. TO THE PERSON SITTING IN DARKNESS 250 XIX. TO MY MISSIONARY CRITICS 273 XX. THOMAS BRACKETT REED 297 XXI. THE FINISHED BOOK 299 XXII. AS REGARDS PATRIOTISM 301 XXIII. DR. LOEB’S INCREDIBLE DISCOVERY 304 XXIV. THE DERVISH AND THE OFFENSIVE STRANGER 310 XXV. INSTRUCTIONS IN ART 315 XXVI. SOLD TO SATAN 326 XXVII. THAT DAY IN EDEN 339 XXVIII. EVE SPEAKS 347 XXIX. SAMUEL ERASMUS MOFFETT 351 XXX. THE NEW PLANET 355 XXXI. MARJORIE FLEMING, THE WONDER CHILD 358 XXXII. ADAM’S SOLILOQUY 377 XXXIII. BIBLE TEACHING AND RELIGIOUS PRACTICE 387 XXXIV. THE WAR PRAYER 394 XXXV. CORN-PONE OPINIONS 399 AN APPRECIATION ------- (This “Biographical Criticism” was prepared by Prof. Brander Matthews, as an introduction to the Uniform Edition of Mark Twain’s Works, published in 1899). It is a common delusion of those who discuss contemporary literature that there is such an entity as the “reading public,” possessed of a certain uniformity of taste. There is not one public; there are many publics--as many, in fact, as there are different kinds of taste; and the extent of an author’s popularity is in proportion to the number of these separate publics he may chance to please. Scott, for example, appealed not only to those who relished romance and enjoyed excitement, but also to those who appreciated his honest portrayal of sturdy characters. Thackeray is preferred by ambitious youth who are insidiously flattered by his tacit compliments to their knowledge of the world, by the disenchanted who cannot help seeing the petty meannesses of society, and by the less sophisticated in whom sentiment has not gone to seed in sentimentality. Dickens in his own day bid for the approval of those who liked broad caricature (and were therefore pleased with Stiggins and Chadband), of those who fed greedily on plentiful pathos (and were therefore delighted with the deathbeds of Smike and Paul Dombey and Little Nell) and also of those who asked for unexpected adventure (and were therefore glad to disentangle the melodramatic intrigues of Ralph Nickleby). In like...

This is a limited preview. Download the book to read the full content.

This isn't a single story, but a vibrant collection of Mark Twain's observations from his travels across Europe and beyond. Think of it as the world's wittiest, most opinionated travel blog from the 19th century. He sails across the Atlantic, wanders through German spas, gets lost in Italian art galleries, and even ventures to the Holy Land. The 'plot' is simply Twain encountering the Old World, with all its grandeur and its quirks, and reporting back with absolute honesty.

Why You Should Read It

You read this for the voice. Twain's humor is timeless—dry, self-deprecating, and brilliantly perceptive. He pokes fun at everything: overly serious tour guides, baffling foreign customs, and even his own countrymen abroad. Beneath the laughs, though, there's a keen intelligence. He questions blind reverence for history and art, and his insights into human nature, whether in a Parisian cafe or a Syrian desert, feel startlingly modern. It's a reminder that great travel writing isn't about the places; it's about the unique mind seeing them.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves smart, funny writing and has ever felt a bit out of place while traveling. If you enjoy Bill Bryson's mix of history and humor, you'll find his spiritual ancestor here. It's also a fantastic pick for history lovers who want a fresh, human, and deeply entertaining perspective on the 19th century. This is Twain at his most conversational and relatable—a brilliant companion for your next trip or your next armchair adventure.



📚 Free to Use

This digital edition is based on a public domain text. Preserving history for future generations.

David Roberts
1 month ago

What caught my attention immediately was that the logical flow of arguments makes it an essential resource for research. An excellent read overall.

Robert Garcia
2 months ago

After spending time with this material, the author's voice is distinct, making the complex topics easy to digest. I would gladly recommend this to others.

Kenneth Hill
5 months ago

This exceeded my expectations because the clarity of explanations makes revisiting sections worthwhile. A valuable addition to my digital library.

George Allen
1 month ago

Once I started reading, the interplay between the protagonists drives the story forward beautifully. Simply brilliant.

4
4 out of 5 (4 User reviews )

Add a Review

Your Rating *
There are no comments for this eBook.
You must log in to post a comment.
Log in

Related eBooks