I was happy to see John Bird get the recognition that he got, but it wasn't 
the recognition that he deserved. There was no mention that he wrote a far 
superior ending to the story consistent with Twain's plot, characters, and 
themes. There was no mention of exactly how Random House/Doubleday co-opted 
(a much politer word than they deserve) the project in a mad scramble to 
exploit Mark Twain's name and foist off on an unsuspecting public a work by 
the Steads. I have no problem with the Steads; they were just following 
orders. But did anybody give them orders to toss Twain's themes out the 
window and pretend that making Johnny black was the only change they made 
that matters? I must also admit, sadly, that I'm disappointed by those who 
are willing to profit by all of this. Those who object are dismissed as 
"purists"--the word actually used in the report. This brings me back to the 
conclusion of my review: some readers will find the story charming, but it 
isn't Mark Twain doing the charming. Using Twain's name to sell this book is 
execrable (to borrow a favorite word of Twain's).

Twainians are grateful that Twain did not follow the custom of so many 
authors and destroy his unpublished manuscripts, but if you have ever 
wondered why so many authors do so, you need look no further than this 
vulgar breach of literary ethics. This is not a Twain't; it's just a twaint.

Kevin
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Mac Donnell Rare Books
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Austin TX 78730
512-345-4139
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-----Original Message----- 
From: Barbara Schmidt
Sent: Sunday, October 01, 2017 9:44 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Piece on Mark Twain Fairy Tale Tomorrow

I think this is a case of a publisher pushing Mark Twain's name off on an
unsuspecting public.  As Kevin Mac Donnell would call it -- the present
fairy tale is a "Twain't."   I think there is a lot more to the
"oleomargarine" connection and its influence on Twain's later works.  I am
looking forward to John Bird's scholarly interpretation along with the
publication of the full manuscript.

Barb