Roger,  thank you.  I believe that no "Honest Man" would ever lay claim to
the "lily white" mantle.  I sincerely believe that our friend was as honest
a man as could ever lay claim to the title.  I am only a dear friend of Mr.
Clemens;  one of many he has not yet had the opportunity to meet.  There is
much understanding to be gained from discourse with his other friends, and
the enjoyment of his writings, wisdom, and insights;  but , I fear, nothing
to be gained from the dissection of his "gift".  It was a gift, Roger, and I
think you and all will agree with me that for the most part he employed it
well and in the general good interest of his fellow man.

I am not a scholar, sir, but I genuinely appreciate the credence of all, and
the generosity with which my request for biographical assistance has been
met.

Again, many thanks.  Your help and suggestions are encouraging.

Lloyd Grant.

----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, July 21, 2001 3:09 PM
Subject: Re: Biographer


> Lloyd:
>
> You've received many good suggestions.
>
> While I much prefer reading Mr. Clemens and Mark Twain
> by Justin Kaplan, at some point you may want to jump in
> on Mark Twain, A Biography by Albert Bigelow Paine.
>
> It's in three volumes. Some of the details will both aggravate
> you and reward you.  And, he has an annoying habit of relating
> incidents and then saying something like, "but we need not go
> into that here."
>
> Yet, he was at Twain's side in the final years.  As an authorized,
> first-hand account it's the best we have.  Keep in mind that he
> and Twain's daughter Clara co-conspired to keep his memory
> as lily-white as one of his suits -- so don't expect "the dark side
> of the moon."
>
> Good luck to you.
>
> Roger Durrett
>