The Unabridged Mark Twain, Volume 1

What can I add that countless other readers, educators and authors haven't? Twain was genius of letters and social commentary. I'd be shocked if you haven't read some of these stories already but having them all collected and immersing oneself into the world of the old south and a youthful America has much entertainment and philosophical value.

If all you've ever read of Mark Twain is Huckleberry Finn in high school, and all you remember is arguing about whether Twain is a racist or not, I highly recommend this collection, which includes several of his novels and a number of short stories. Before the brouhaha about Finn, Twain was considered one of the finest humorists in the United States, and we read him because he was funny. This anthology is ample evidence of why.

There's something about the comforting feel of this cinderblock of a book in the hand - and something serendipitously wonderful about dipping in at random intervals throughout its 1300 pages. When I found this one today for $3 at the Brattle, I told myself I'd KEEP it this time - and find all the other three as well!