Mark Twain: His Life in Virginia City, Nevada

Dayton, Nevada: Tree By the River Publishing, 1990. Signed Copy. Soft Cover. Very Good. 6x0x9. Signed by author. Signed by author on title page without inscription. Minor wear to corners. 1990 Soft Cover. 197 pp. Though Americans usually associate Mark Twain with Tom Sawyer and the Mississippi River, Samuel Clemens actually began his serious writing careers as a reporter for the Territorial Enterprise at Virginia City, Nevada in 1862. Contrary to Clemens' well told story about his curious pen name, "Mark Twain" had nothing to do with his life on the river, and more to do with his drinking habits while in Virginia City. Having lost his high paying job as a river boat pilot on the Mississippi due to the outbreak of the Civil War, in 1861 Clemens tags along with his brother Orion to Nevada Territory. For a year Clemens prospects at several mining camps trying to strike it rich. He fails and goes broke at Aurora, Nevada. Having contributed a series of humorous letters to the Enterprise, editor Joe Goodman offers Clemens a reporting post in the then booming silver mining town of Virginia City. It is Clemens' first full time paying writing job. Four months later Clemens is writing as Mark Twain.--rear cover