Keep the rave reviews going. They're great fun, allowing those of us who, sadly, couldn't make it, to vicariously experience the Hannibal gathering. They also strengthen our resolve to make the next one. Missed seeing you all, but a looming book deadline (looming is a "lightning bug" word, not the lightning) and (would you believe it?) Mark Twain commitments blocked the path to Hannibal. So, by all means, more reports -- greatly exaggerated or otherwise -- on the conference.
 


     On Tuesday, July 28, 2015 1:23 PM, Hal Bush <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
   

 Steve Courtney is being modest here -- he has become the third leg of the
effort (and we are thankful).  We are thrilled to allow him "into the tent
a little"-- meaning, Steve is one of 3 co-editors on this project.

As for the second leg, or the co-first leg:  that would be Peter Messent,
and if you were at the session in Hannibal, then you already know about how
much Pete has put into this.  He has also been the instrumental
point-person in the negotiations with UC Press & Bob Hirst about gaining
rights to publish ALL of the extant Twain letters to Twichell.  Pete has
been huge in this project and I really do acknowledge his amazing work on
this.

I should also say, the previous volume of Twichell Civil War Letters,
edited by Pete and Steve, is really splendid as an edition, and extremely
moving as bedside or scholarly reading.  Highly recommended; and it comes
in handy as far as their joint experience editing a collection of letters!!
-hb



On Tue, Jul 28, 2015 at 11:51 AM, Steve Courtney <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> I wasn't there either, but heard rave reviews from my Hartford colleagues
> T=
> racy Brindle, Jacques Lamarre and James Golden (and of course the
> unsinkabl=
> e Cindy Lovell), though the three first-named tended to sneak off to see
> ex=
> tra caves or to visit odd costume shops and offbeat museums, they tell me.
> =
> I'm glad Hal's presentation on the incredible work he and Pete Messent
> have=
>  been doing on the Twichell-Twain letters was so successful, and the book
> w=
> ill really be an incredible reconstruction of a dialogue otherwise lost to
> =
> time. I've gotten a peek at it, and they're even letting me in the tent a
> l=
> ittle. And of course, as Hal says, Bob's work was invaluable in this.  =0A=
> =0A=
> But what a great thing that Henry does this. Kudos to all.=0A=
> =0A=
> Best,=0A=
> Steve=0A=
> =0A=
> Steve Courtney=0A=
> Special Projects=0A=
> The Mark Twain House & Museum=0A=
> 351 Farmington Avenue=0A=
> Hartford, Connecticut 06105=0A=
> 860-302-8969=0A=
> =0A=
> =0A=
> ________________________________________=0A=
> From: Mark Twain Forum [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Loren Ghiglione
> [ghi=
> [log in to unmask]]=0A=
> Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2015 12:20 PM=0A=
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Hannibal Conference 2015=0A=
> =0A=
> I too want to thank Henry & Co. for a wonderful conference.  It also gave
> m=
> =3D=0A=
> e the opportunity to check back with Faye Dant and other I interviewed in
> 2=
> =3D=0A=
> 011 as part of my "Traveling with Twain in Search of America's Identity"
> pr=
> =3D=0A=
> oject.  Most rewarding sessions.  Again, thanks.  Best, Loren=0A=
> =0A=
> -----Original Message-----=0A=
> From: Mark Twain Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Hal Bush=0A=
> Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2015 9:49 AM=0A=
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Hannibal Conference 2015=0A=
> =0A=
> Colleagues;=0A=
> =0A=
> I'm a bit surprised (and disappointed a bit) that nobody has started a=0A=
> thread to share response to the conference.  So I am taking the
> initiative=
> =3D=0A=
> .=0A=
> =0A=
> Hannibal was great, I really enjoyed it, the conference doubled in size
> sin=
> =3D=0A=
> ce the last one. Kudos to Henry and his staff for a great series of
> events.=
> =3D=0A=
>  For my talk on the forthcoming Twain-Twichell letters, (which is now
> goin=
> =3D=0A=
> g to be comprehensive and is being supported by Bob Hirst and his
> wonderful=
> =3D=0A=
>  staff at MTP), there were almost 40 in the room and overall strong
> affirma=
> =3D=0A=
> tion for the project.=0A=
> =0A=
> Unfortunately I had other obligations and missed many of the talks.  Bruce
> =
> =3D=0A=
> Michelson dazzled us on changing media and representations of MT;  but as
> m=
> =3D=0A=
> uch as I like Bruce and always feel rewarded by his insights, I must say
> it=
> =3D=0A=
>  was the riverboat cruise that proved most memorable.  Sorry Bruce!=0A=
> =0A=
> One other point:  an amazing turnout by international scholars, in
> particul=
> =3D=0A=
> ar the 5 or 6 folks who flew in from Japan, and Hamada from Dubai/Syria.
> I=
> =3D=0A=
>  also met a few brilliant young graduate students and even some
> undergradua=
> =3D=0A=
> tes attended!!  On a personal note, my wife Hiroko also attended and she
> wa=
> =3D=0A=
> s very complimentary of the Twain folks who all were friendly and reached
> o=
> =3D=0A=
> ut to make her feel the Twain love!=0A=
> =0A=
> I'd be interested in hearing any other reports, best wishes, --hb=0A=
> =0A=
> =0A=
> =0A=
> =0A=
> --=0A=
> Prof. Harold K. Bush=0A=
> Professor of English=0A=
> 3800 Lindell=0A=
> Saint Louis University=0A=
> St. Louis, MO  63108=0A=
> 314-977-3616 (w); 314-771-6795 (h)=0A=
> <www.slu.edu/x23809.xml>=0A=
>



-- 
Prof. Harold K. Bush
Professor of English
3800 Lindell
Saint Louis University
St. Louis, MO  63108
314-977-3616 (w); 314-771-6795 (h)
<www.slu.edu/x23809.xml>