Bought and purchased. Cannot wait to read!
On Aug 16, 2013, at 4:00 PM, Kevin Mac Donnell <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> The writer of the Vanity Fair burlesque did not get the term "mark twain"
> from steamboat or riverboat usage. He got it from usage (along with other
> nautical terms not used on the rivers) from ocean-going vessels where it has
> a very different meaning than when used on a river, and I explain that
> meaning in my article, and why Twain particularly did not want his nom de
> plume to be associated with that other usage.
>
> As authors, often say: "buy the book" although in this case all you have to
> do is buy the MTJ.
>
> Kevin
> @
> Mac Donnell Rare Books
> 9307 Glenlake Drive
> Austin TX 78730
> 512-345-4139
> Member: ABAA, ILAB
> *************************
> You may browse our books at
> www.macdonnellrarebooks.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ben Wise" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, August 16, 2013 3:10 PM
> Subject: Re: Link to article in Kansas City Star
>
>
>> Yes. I'm no MT scholar, to say the least, but the essence of Dustin's
>> points have seemed likely to me since Kevin's discovery was first posted
>> here: First, that it's almost certain, is it not, that the author of the
>> Vanity Fair article derived the name from the same nautical reference that
>> Clemens has been reputed to have done? And second for that reason, its
>> appearance in an article he read could have been an echo of something he'd
>> thought of before or since for his own reasons. In other words, I'd submit
>> that reports that he'd plagiarized his pen name are greatly exaggerated.
>> But then, what do I know?
>>
>> Ben
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Dustin Zima" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Sent: Friday, August 16, 2013 2:56:12 PM
>> Subject: Re: Link to article in Kansas City Star
>>
>> I have a quick question for the forum regarding Kevin's incredible
>> discover=
>> y.? Let me set it up first:? Sam began as a cub pilot in 1857; he received
>> =
>> his pilot's license in 1859.? The article that Kevin found is from 1861.?
>> H=
>> e adopts the moniker in 1863, which very well could have been as a result
>> o=
>> f the Vanity Fair article.? However, how does this conclusively rule out
>> th=
>> e previous assumptions/educated guesses as to the nom de plum ??
>> Furthermor=
>> e, this leads me to at least question--most respectfully--Kevin's
>> conclusio=
>> n that the use of "Mark Twain" in the Vanity Fair article, combined with
>> th=
>> e assertion that it was a publication that Sam had read or been aware of,
>> "=
>> provides simple, logical answers to dangling questions, is contradicted by
>> =
>> no known facts," and that "everything fits like a glove."? Would Sam not
>> ha=
>> ve already been aware of the term's adaptability into a believable
>> pen-name=
>> ?? Perhaps not since he did not christen himself "Mark Twain" until
>> 1863--t=
>> wo years after the Vanity Fair article.? However he was interested in
>> writi=
>> ng before becoming a cub pilot, and the years during his piloting days
>> were=
>> profoundly influential to Sam as a writer/thinker/observer--see Life on
>> th=
>> e Mississippi.? Would Sam not have been led more by his cherished days of
>> p=
>> iloting, specifically the language from those days? ? ? ?=20
>> =20
>>
>> =20
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Kevin Mac Donnell <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: TWAIN-L <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Fri, Aug 16, 2013 12:37 pm
>> Subject: Link to article in Kansas City Star
>>
>> =20
>> =20
>> =20
>> Martin Zehr did a fine write-up about my piece for which I want to thank
>> hi=
>> =3D=20
>> m in this very public forum among colleagues.=20
>> =20
>> I hope those whose previous research on Mark Twain are cited in my article
>> =
>> =3D=20
>> will accept those citations as my way of saying thanks to them for their
>> in=
>> =3D=20
>> sights and hard work that suggested avenues of research and provided
>> numero=
>> =3D=20
>> us clues that led me to my conclusions --whether or not you even agree
>> with=
>> =3D=20
>> my conclusions.=20
>> =20
>> I also hope that those who are not already subscribers to the Mark Twain
>> Jo=
>> =3D=20
>> urnal will remedy that grievous oversight. The MTJ deserves the support of
>> =
>> =3D=20
>> all Twainians.=20
>> =20
>> Here's the link to Martin Zehr's piece in the Kansas City Star: =20
>> =20
>> http://www.kansascity.com/2013/08/16/4413137/a-new-theory-seems-the-best-e=
>> =3D=20
>> xplanation.html =20
>> =20
>> If the crush of fame becomes overwhelming, you will find me hiding, many
>> da=
>> =3D=20
>> ys out, under a nom de plume that's Twainian, yet reflects my Irish
>> heritag=
>> =3D=20
>> e-- Begum O'Bengal. =20
>> =20
>> Kevin=20
>> @=20
>> Mac Donnell Rare Books=20
>> 9307 Glenlake Drive=20
>> Austin TX 78730=20
>> 512-345-4139=20
>> Member: ABAA, ILAB=20
>> *************************=20
>> You may browse our books at =20
>> www.macdonnellrarebooks.com=20
>> =20
>> =20
>> =20
>> -----=20
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>>
>>
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>
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