003 - Playing the Courier

This captivating collection of travel letters by Mark Twain, meticulously compiled by Barbara Schmidt for her website, TwainQuotes.com, offers a glimpse into the renowned writers European adventures in 1891-92. As noted by his biographer, Albert Bigelow Paine, Twain set off with his family to Europe, knowing he would be compensated one thousand dollars for each of six letters by the McClure Syndicate and W. M. Laffan of the New York Sun. These letters graced the pages of several prominent publications, including the Chicago Sunday Tribune, Atlanta Constitution, and Boston Globe, alongside the New York Sun. Fans of Twain’s earlier works, such as “The Innocents Abroad” and “A Tramp Abroad,” will delight in his signature style, blending satire and irony as he reflects on his discoveries. - Summary by John Greenman and Barbara Schmidt