A couple years ago, I wrote a note to the nice folks at the Bancroft
Library and asked them pretty much the same question.  Here is the
response I received, which I took to be good news, that the "Early Tales
and Sketches" project is still underway.  Perhaps now, two years later,
there would be a more formal schedule for publication; might be worth
asking.

Paul Schullery



On 5/12/10 5:15 PM, "Laura Cerruti" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Dear Paul Schullery,

The editors of The Mark Twain Project at The Bancroft Library do intend to
return to their work on the Early Tales and Sketches volumes. They have
been interrupted by several pressing projects‹most recently publication of
Autobiography of Mark Twain, which Mark Twain wanted to have published, in
its entirety, 100 years after his death. The first volume of that
publication comes out this fall: http://www.ucpress.edu/9780520267190

You can also find more of Mark Twain's short sketches and tales in other
books published in partnership between UC Press and The Mark Twain
Project. See a full list at:
http://www.ucpress.edu/subject.php?sc=littwa

You might also visit the Mark Twain Project's online critical edition at
www.marktwainproject.org <http://www.marktwainproject.org>

I hope this information is helpful.

Best regards,
Laura Cerruti
[log in to unmask]






-----Original Message-----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:40:57 -0400
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Early Tales & Sketches

Lately I=E2=80=99ve been re-reading the first two volumes of this =
projected three-volume series from the 1980s, and wondering again what =
ever happened to the third volume. As far as I can tell, it never =
appeared, but it seems that the process was already well under way when =
the other volumes appeared, judging from several references in the notes =
to a certain sketch as No. 202, or some other number higher than =
anything in the second volume. Back in those days I expected to hear at =
any time that the third volume was now available. Does anybody know what =
happened?

Similarly, the Mark Twain Library seemed to conk out quickly in the mid- =
to late =E2=80=9980s. The volumes I have list Innocents Abroad with a =
projected publication date of 1985 or =E2=80=9986, I think, and maybe =
others too, but they apparently suffered the same fate as Tales & =
Sketches Vol. 3. I=E2=80=99m guessing maybe funding dried up, or =
something along those lines, but I=E2=80=99ve never seen any =
explanation.

-- Bob G.