I've enjoyed the dialog and comments about the topic so far.  I don't
have a lot to add, but I thought I'd throw in my two cents.  Just
looking at the two guys from a stand point of race, I think they have
an equally complex relationship with the idea of slavery and race in
general.  Plenty has been said about Twain on this topic, in this
forum and elsewhere, and a lot has been said about Lincoln
(particularly in the last five years) and his struggles with
emancipation, etc.  Could be some interesting parallels made there.

Michael MacBride
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale


On Fri, Jul 30, 2010 at 8:52 AM, Harold Bush <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Folks, as you all know, it was WDH who called our beloved MT the "Lincoln of
> our literature."
>
> What I am wondering is the extent to which it may be plausible to turn that
> around, and talk about Lincoln as the "Mark Twain of our politics."
>
> First, does anyone know of any writing or criticism that makes that
> connection?
>
> Second, does anyone have any response or corroboration for such a concept?
>
> happy waning summer days...
>
> --
> Harold K. Bush, Ph.D
> Professor of English
> Saint Louis University
> St. Louis, MO  63108
> 314-977-3616 (w); 314-771-6795 (h)
> <www.slu.edu/x23809.xml>
>