| Author |
Twain, Mark, 1835-1910 |
| Title |
Life on the Mississippi, Part 5.
|
| Note |
Reading ease score: 76.8 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
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| Credits |
Produced by David Widger
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| Summary |
"Life on the Mississippi, Part 5" by Mark Twain is a narrative portion of a memoir that outlines the author's experiences as a young steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River, written in the late 19th century. The book serves as a historical account that provides insights into the steamboating industry, social changes, and the personal journey of Twain as he reflects on his earlier years spent on the river before the onset of the Civil War and the significant impacts of technological advancements thereafter. In this section, Twain recounts his return to the Mississippi River after twenty-one years, filled with a mixture of nostalgia and observation of the changes that have taken place over time. He describes the decline of the steamboat industry, attributing it to the rise of railroads and other factors that led to the abandonment of steamboats and a shift in the socio-economic landscape. Through humorous anecdotes and sharp observations, Twain illustrates both the physical transformation of towns like St. Louis and Cairo, as well as the gradual loss of the vibrant steamboat culture that once thrived along the river. The narrative reveals his personal yearning for the comfort and excitement of his youthful piloting days, while also reflecting on the inevitable passage of time and change. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
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| Subject |
Mississippi River -- Description and travel
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| Subject |
Mississippi River Valley -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
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| Subject |
Authors, American -- 19th century -- Biography
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| Subject |
Pilots and pilotage -- Mississippi River
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| Subject |
Twain, Mark, 1835-1910 -- Travel -- Mississippi River
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
8475 |
| Release Date |
Jul 9, 2004 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Dec 26, 2020 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
94 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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