Mark Twain (1835-1910) American, "The Innocents Abroad" 1884 Subscription Edition. Originally published in 1872 and subtitled "or The New Pilgrims' Progress," this extremely successful work saw multiple printings during Twain's own lifetime, lauded as one of the greatest travelogues of all time for his satirical and humorous recounting of his 1867 chartered steamship "pleasure excursion" aboard the Quaker City through Europe, Egypt, and the Holy Land. This particular edition was notorious for being issued strictly by subscription through door-to-door agents rather than direct retail bookstores. Includes 234 illustrations over 650 pages, with gilt detailing for the title on the front as well as the writing on the spine.
The Innocents Abroad, or The New Pilgrim’s Progress, by Mark Twain, published by The American Publishing Company in Hartford, Conn, 1881. The first edition was published in 1872, so this is a later printing, with 651 pages and 234 illustrations, clear pages and just light scattered foxing and a loose hinge at the rear.
Condition: Some bookworm damage in the gutter, and fading to pages and cover commensurate with age.
Size: 6 1/2 x 9 x 2 in.
Mark Twain, the pen name of Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910), was an iconic American writer, humorist, and lecturer celebrated as the “Father of American Literature.” Raised in the river town of Hannibal, Missouri, his early experiences along the Mississippi River deeply informed his legendary classic novels, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Before achieving literary stardom, he worked as a printer’s devil (young apprentice), a riverboat pilot, a silver miner, and a traveling journalist, adopting his famous nautical pseudonym while writing for Western newspapers. Renowned for his sharp wit, keen social satire, and masterly capture of regional vernacular, Twain emerged as a fierce critic of American imperialism, corporate greed, and racial hypocrisy. His vast body of work, spanning travelogues like The Innocents Abroad to sharp essays and lectures to early experiments in what would eventually be called “science fiction,” made him one of the most celebrated global celebrities of his era, and he remains one of the bestselling authors in history as his enduring literary legacy continues to define the American story and shape modern prose.
Some bookworm damage in the gutter, and fading to pages and cover commensurate with age.
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