The Complete Novels (The Greatest Writers of All Time)

Most would find some of the exaggeration and belaboring of detail too tedious. Some would find tales too outlandish etc. I happen to love everything Clemens wrote, and am also fascinated by boats, rivers, geography, yada. I thought the appendix with the full native American legend to be one of those unexpected gems that just knocks me on my butt.

Mark Twain's inimitable style makes many things interesting, though sometimes he falters in this book. The opening information about the scope of the river basin and his personal story of becoming a river boat pilot sweep you up and carry you along. The second half pieces together bits of small and tall tales, travel information, political commentary, and statistics in a very loosely woven narrative of a journey down and up the river later in Twain's life. Some sections charm the reader, and some put you to sleep. As an author I find the whole of the book interesting in several ways. It gives perspective on the lifestyle, the values, and living conditions on the Mississippi before and after the civil war. He states his opinions vehemently, some of them quite unique--I've never heard Sir Walter Scott and his book, Ivanhoe, blamed for the civil war anywhere else. Twain's humor and writing ability bring the characters and places to life in his rather rascally way, yet more than once I wanted to put it down. Due to these inconsistencies, if a new author wrote this book today it would never see the light of day. I'm glad I persisted to the end and recommend it as a worth while read, even if you skip some parts.

I have attention disorder so books can be hard to read for me, but I could easily enjoy it. The book is split in two halves, the fist about Twain's adventures, then about how the river changed. After the book, you see the Missisipi River in a whole new way. This book is nonfiction and is a advanced book for a middle school student. After reading this you should try The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

How can anyone purport to critique the work of an iconic American writing genius? Probably most of us were exposed to Twain's writings as part of public education ( the closest thing we have to forced labor and involuntary servitude). Now may be the time to look back and enjoy Twain at his best. Reading this book would be a recommended way to start.

Wonderful book! I remember reading Mark Twain as a kid and enjoying it well enough. Now, I have to say, I am blown away by his extraordinary wit and humor. What a brilliant, clever, and insightful storyteller. I loved every minute of it.

Fun and zany Mark Twain novel that gives insight into Twain's youth and young adulthood. It's fascinating to read about the history of the Mississippi's antebellum life and how quickly it changed. A brief flash of romance in American history....

I read an article, in the paper, commemorating a visit Mark Twain made to Australia. I didn't know he had visited these fair shores and became intrigued. I was stimulated enough to re-read 'Tom Sawyer' followed by Huckleberry Finn. I also discovered this book, 'Life on The Mississippi, (I spelled that correctly without help from a spell check or dictionary! I just thought I'd share that with you). Finding it was available for an e-reader was a plus too.
It, the book, gives some history of the paddle steamers as well as some of his experiences as a pilot on the riverboats. The only boats of this kind I had ever seen, apart from a visit to Disneyland, was when I visited Echuca and the Murray river where there are still some examples I am told, although I only saw one at that time. (Just thought I'd share that as well).
In the main it is an interesting read but, to be honest, I didn't find it as riveting a read, as I expected. More for a person who wishes to know more about the great man I think.

This account of Mark Twain's experiences of the Mississippi is consitently interesting and entertaining in the first half. Here he writes of his experienes as a "cub" pilot. The latter part, an account of a nostalgic journey back to the river some twenty years later, is like the curate's egg - very good in some parts, rambling and space filling in others. As a historical source the book really does portray the ambience of life in the early years of American settlement of the Mississippi valley, and the authors mindset - nineteenth century confidence [misplaced] in the machine. It does this notwithstanding the author's capacity to do what he accuses others of doing, that is tell a good tale that may not always be gospel.

Perhaps it is reflection of the time in which this was written, but the book meanders leisurely like the river it is based on; and sometimes it seems endless and too riven with details. But then, that was a different age, when one had the time and inclination to sit back and watch life float by - so different from the impatience of the present times.

This version of "Life on the Mississippi" is essentially a poorly designed, textbook-sized pain to read. I think the publisher is some guy in a garage using Microsoft Word (seriously). Buy a different version.

Very interesting info in this book. A lot of history about the MS river and the way it is told is very funny! There is a lot of info about being a pilot on a steamship that one would never know without reading this book!

To me this was a very enjoyable book; part memoirs, part travel, and part fiction all in a delightful mix. It had my attention from beginning till end. Not only is this an interesting book, but it is quite humorous in the bargain, and free on kindle.

Excellent example of mark Twain's writing. Provides a broad and detailed view of Twain's experiences on the Mississippi both as a youth and as an older man returning to the places of his youth and their impact on his older self.

Delivered with his classic wit and keen observation skills, the first 3/4 of this book are a great read. Twain delivers a vivid account of (as the title says) Life on the Mississippi. The last 1/4 of the novel drags on a bit.

This is a great collection of stories from a master. More of a journal than a finished work. The kindle version was fairly well done with a number of formatting errors, but nothing so bad to not make it worth the free price. Thanks for kindling this. I may not have read it otherwise.

Delivered with his classic wit and keen observation skills, the first 3/4 of this book are a great read. Twain delivers a vivid account of (as the title says) Life on the Mississippi. The last 1/4 of the novel drags on a bit.

This is a great collection of stories from a master. More of a journal than a finished work. The kindle version was fairly well done with a number of formatting errors, but nothing so bad to not make it worth the free price. Thanks for kindling this. I may not have read it otherwise.

Mark Twain is such at terrific c writer. Takes you along with him on his journeys. Makes you use your brain cells along with your reading skills. I haven't read the whole book through yet, but I definatly will. He keeps you on the edge of your seat and such adventures!!

As a current pilot of towing vessels on the Mississippi River and the ICW, I thought this was an excellent book. Since I began working in the inland towing industry, I've often heard crew members mention a time when "the men were made of steel and the barges were made of wood". This explores that time. Even if you've never been on the Mississippi River, I'd still say this is an excellent and insightful read.