Mark Twain the gift of humor / Harold H. Kolb Jr.
| Author/creator | Kolb, Harold H. |
| Format | Electronic |
| Publication Info | Lanham : University Press Of America, Inc., [2015] |
| Description | xi, 504 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm |
| Supplemental Content | Full text available from Ebook Central - Academic Complete |
| Subjects |
| Contents | I: Introduction. The shape of a humorist's career -- II: Toward a discussion of humor. The physics of humor ; The psychology of humor ; The sociology of humor : national character and morality -- III: Early years : comic creations (1851-1872). The strategy of counterpoint ; Throw in another grizzly : the tall tale in America -- IV: Middle years : the triumph of satire (1873-1889). Old times and new narrators ; The non-example of Bret Harte ; Adventures of Huckleberry Finn ; Comic contrast and violent humor : A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's court ; The advocacy of W. D. Howells -- V: Later years : the humorist as ironist (1890-1910). The not-so-gay nineties ; A subtle humorist -- VI: Remnants. Mysterious strangers ; An uncharted sea of recollection : Mark Twain's autobiography -- Appendix: Books by Mark Twain : a selected list of American editions published in his lifetime ; Tales and sketches ; Posthumously published works. |
| Abstract | Mark Twain is America's--perhaps the world's--best known humorous writer. Yet many commentators in his time and our own have thought of humor as merely an attractive surface feature rather than a crucial part of both the meaning and the structure of Twain's writings. This book begins with a discussion of humor, and then demonstrates how Twain's artistic strategies, his remarkable achievements, and even his philosophy were bound together in his conception of humor, and how this conception developed across a forty-five year career. Kolb shows that Twain is a writer whose lifelong mode of perception is essentially humorous, a writer who sees the world in the sharp clash of contrast, whose native language is exaggeration, and whose vision unravels and reorganizes our perceptions. Humor, in all its mercurial complexity, is at the center of Mark Twain's talent, his successes, and his limitations. It is as a humorist--amiably comic, sharply satiric, grimly ironic, simultaneously humorous and serious--that he is best understood.--Provided by publisher. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| Access restriction | Available only to authorized users. |
| Technical details | Mode of access: World Wide Web |
| Genre/form | Electronic books. |
| LCCN | 2014942088 |
| ISBN | 9780761864202 |
| ISBN | 0761864202 |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Resources | Access Content Online | ✔ Available |