Life on the Mississippi

Life on the Mississippi is a novel originally written by Mark Twain in 1883. The book was an instant bestseller and it remains one of Twain's most popular works, and is considered one of the classics of American literature.

Life on the Mississippi is a memoir by Mark Twain about his days as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River in the period leading up to the outbreak of the American Civil War.

The memoir begins by describing the river and giving a brief history, then goes on to tell the stories of Twain's piloting days. He discusses the science of piloting, the dangers of the river, and the camaraderie among pilots. He also relates a number of anecdotes of life on the river, including stories of shipwrecks, steamboat races, and encounters with pirates.

Life on the Mississippi is not only a memoir, but also a key work in visualizing a detailed and intimate portrait of life on the river in the 19th century. Twain's love of the river and the years he spent piloting boats on it are evident in the book, and his affection for the people and places he writes about is evident.

This book is illustrated with original drawings.

"The Mississippi is well worth reading about. It is not a commonplace river, but on the contrary is in all ways remarkable. Considering the Missouri its main branch, it is the longest river in the world-four thousand three hundred miles. It seems safe to say that it is also the crookedest river in the world, since in one part of its journey it uses up one thousand three hundred miles to cover the same ground that the crow would fly over in six hundred and seventy-five".