How to Tell a Story and Other Essays. By Mark Twain. First Edition, First Printing. Harper & Brothers. New York, 1897.

Mark Twain, often considered the Father of American Literature, led a full and enigmatic life. He was an acclaimed author of novels and travelogues, but also a riverboat captain, a prospector, a journalist, a public speaker, an inventor, and a publisher. He traveled the world several times over. He adored his daughters and wife. He was friends with many of the most notable people of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Much of his experiences influenced his literature which he infused with incredible humor and social commentary. In this volume, Twain provides a collection of essays that, like his other nonfiction, are truthful insofar as they involve real events and ideas, but are also infused with tall-tale humor and Twain’s unmatched wit. The titular story is particularly significant. How to Tell a Story is a rare example of Twain’s ideas on literary craft. In it, he describes his thoughts on drafting humorous stories and how best to deliver them in public readings.

This first edition, first printing is in very good condition. In the original red cloth with elaborate gilt stamping, very good with only rubbing to corners, minor bumping to edges, and some gilt rubbed on front board. Text block near-fine, only minor fading to endpapers. Page 187 uncorrected and two pages of ads in the back.

A very good first edition of this scarce Twain title.