A Double Barrelled Detective Story. By Mark Twain. First Edition, First Printing. Harper & Brothers. New York, 1902.

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 short novel applying his sense of humor to a burgeoning literary genre at the time: detective fiction. The work features Sherlock Holmes transported to the American West where his scientific methods of investigation become futile and the absurdity of the region subsumes his otherwise tactful demeanor. The work also features Twain himself, appearing halfway through the story as a character. It was Twain’s only foray into detective fiction and it proved a silly one.

This first edition, first printing is in very good condition. In the original cloth, maroon variant, with elaborate gilt stamping. Cloth very good with only rubbing and bumping to edges and slightly faded spine. Text block very good with only bookplate residue to front pastedown and closed tear to rear pastedown. Top edge gilt. All plates present.

A very good first edition of A Double Barrelled Detective Story.