Eva Schweitzer of Berlinica Publishing in New York asked me to post the
following book announcement -- best, Steve Courtney

~~~~~

A Tramp in Berlin. New Mark Twain Stories
& An Account of Twain’s Berlin Adventures by Andreas Austilat

Hardcover: 6.14'' x 9.21''
ISBN: 978-1-935902-92-8

suggested retail: $21.95

Softcover: 5.5'' x 8.5''

ISBN: 978-1-935902-90-4

suggested retail: $13.95

Cover copy:

In fall 1891, Mark Twain headed for Berlin, the “newest city I have ever
seen,” as America’s foremost humorist wrote; accompanied by his wife,
Olivia, and their three daughters. Twain, a “Yankee from head to toe,”
according to the Berlin press, conspired with diplomats, frequented the
famed salons, had breakfast with duchesses, and dined with the emperor. He
also suffered an “organized dog-choir club,” at his first address, which he
deemed a “rag-picker’s paradise,” picked a fight with the police, who made
him look under his maid’s petticoats, was abused by a porter, got lost on
streetcars, was nearly struck down by pneumonia, and witnessed a proletarian
uprising right in front of his hotel on Unter den Linden. Twain penned
articles about his everyday life and also began a novel about lonely
Prussian princess Wilhelmina von Preussen—unpublished until now, like many
of his Berlin stories. These are assembled for the first time in this book,
along with a riveting account of Twain’s foray in the German capital, by
Andreas Austilat. Foreword by Lewis Lapham.

Advanced praise:

This fascinating book is a must-read for any Twain enthusiast“

— Andy Borowitz

About Andreas Austilat:

Andreas Austilat is the deputy editor of the Sunday supplement of Der
Tagesspiegel, Berlin’s leading daily, where he has worked since 1987. He
interviewed many celebrities—such as Rosanne Cash (daughter of Johnny Cash),
architect David Chipperfield, fashion designer Tommy Hilfinger, as well as
authors Ian Kershaw and Kathy Reichs—, and also the last survivors of the
gigantic airship “Hindenburg,” which crashed in 1937 in Lakehurst, New
Jersey, after its transatlantic journey. He also discovered the lost copies
of the oldest existing Titanic movie filmed in 1912, the year of the Titanic
disaster; it was hidden in a Berlin archive. He published three travel and
culture guides about Brandenburg and a history book about Zehlendorf, an
affluent Berlin suburb. Austilat was born in Berlin, where he lives with his
wife, his two children—a boy and a girl—and their dog Duffy. He studied
history at the Free University and at first wanted to become a teacher, but
decided switch to journalism early on.

About Lewis Lapham:

Lewis H. Lapham, born 1935, is an American writer. He was the editor of the
American monthly Harper’s Magazine. He is also the founder of Lapham’s
Quarterly, and has written more than a dozen books on politics and current
affairs and countless newspaper and magazine articels. He is also on the
Board of Trustees of the Advisory Council of the Mark Twain House in
Hartford, Connecticut.

Steve Courtney
7 Union St.
Terryville, CT 06786
860-589-6412