IN> ....................... We can talk about the "autobiography,"
 IN> in other words, but I doubt we'll ever read it.
 
 IN> Nick Mount
 IN> Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
 
 Nick and Bill,
     Thanks for raising the bar.  You both have sharpened
     excellent points on the head of Mr. Neider. I too prefer Paine.
     However, I don't have a passionate dislike for Neider; I have
     even been known to mention his name in mixed company, and I
     readily admit to owning nearly all of his works on Twain.  Neider
     still provides the most Twain for the least dollars (excepting for
     Twain's World CD-Rom) I know about.  SLC himself saw the need for
     "cheap" editions of our literary treasures.  Where, then, is the
     "cheap" edition of Paine?
 
     BTW, I second Brent's notion for the "unabridged Autobiography" on
     CD-ROM.  It's a brilliant idea.  I'd buy such a work even if I had
     to go without scotch and cigars for a year.
 
     Indeed, Nick, it was Clemens' idea to attach 20,000 words or so of
     autobiography to new editions of his work so as to renew copyrights
     in favor of Jean and Clara, thereby securing their future.  This
     seems to indicate that SLC had no vision of a completed book.
     In fact, I fancy that Clemens was so wise as to envision various
     editions being launched periodically, each one different, each
     one a bit more revealing, each one striking fresh fire in the
     world, until that time came when all things Clemens would erode to
     dust and dreams and cease to be of interest.  Then, perhaps, the
     fully revealed facts of the Morris incident would be all that
     remained to echo on into eternity.  Can one tell now what will be of
     untold value a thousand generations hence?   I jest.  Not.
 
     Paul Berkowitz ([log in to unmask])