Cartoons and Caricatures of Mark Twain in Context
130 pages, 6 x 9
Paperback
Release Date:14 Nov 2023
ISBN:9780817361044
Hardcover
Release Date:14 Nov 2023
ISBN:9780817321727
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Cartoons and Caricatures of Mark Twain in Context

Reformer and Social Critic, 1869–1910

University of Alabama Press
The first book-length treatment of Mark Twain’s public persona as depicted in newspaper and magazine illustrations
 
Cartoons and Caricatures of Mark Twain in Context: Reformer and Social Critic, 1869–1910 examines the production, reception, and history of Twain’s reputation as a social and political satirist. Myrick and Scharnhorst trace the evolution of Twain’s depiction throughout his life, career, and even death and across more than seventy illustrations—from portrayals of the famous author as a court jester adorned with cap and bells, to a regally haloed king with a royal train—offering a new perspective on his influence and reputation. Although he was among the most photographed figures of the nineteenth century, Myrick and Scharnhorst focus on a medium that Twain, an expert ofself-promotion and brand management, could not control. As a result, Myrick and Scharnhorst have compiled an innovative and incisive visual reception history.

Cartoons and Caricatures of Mark Twainin Context illustrates the popular and often critical response to many famous and infamous episodes in his career, such as the storm of controversy that surrounded the publication of his anti-imperialist writings at the turn of the twentieth century. Routinely depicted with hair like a fright wig, a beak-like nose, and a cigar in hand, no matter the context or the costume, Twain was instantly recognizable. Yet it was not merely the familiarity of his image that made him a regular feature in visual commentary, but also his willingness to speak out against corruption and to insert himself into controversies of his day.

 
‘Leslie Diane Myrick and Gary Scharnhorst give us not only a comprehensive catalog of Mark Twain caricatures but also the detailed context that informs the visual language at work in each cartoon.’
—Larry Howe, author of Mark Twain and Money: Language, Capital, and Culture

'[Cartoons and Caricatures of Mark Twain in Context] offers an image of Twain as seen from the outside, or as the contemporary public saw him rather than as he presented (or strove to present) himself. . . . For any Twain enthusiast or scholar, this work promises to be a treasure of stories and anecdotes just as amusing and humorous as the pictures they explain.'
Mark Twain Journal

Leslie Diane Myrick is coeditor of The Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volumes 1–3: The Complete and Authoritative Edition. She was previously associate editor of the Mark Twain Project.

Gary Scharnhorst is distinguished professor emeritus of English at the University of New Mexico. He has written 18 monographs, including a three-volume biography of Mark Twain, and edited 34 other books, including Mark Twain: The Complete Interviews.
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