Let me just add my approval of Kevin's message. It was a wonderful program, but because it was not virtual it made it difficult for the wider Twain community to access it — but it's available now. I hope Kevin will provide many more thematic explorations of his extraordinary collection! I was lucky enough to visit Austin and get a personal look a while back. It is a joy to see.

Steve Courtney, Curatorial Volunteer
The Mark Twain House & Museum
351 Farmington Avenue
Hartford, Connecticut 06105
860-302-8969



________________________________
From: Mark Twain Forum <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Kevin Mac Donnell <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, June 3, 2025 12:13 PM
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: [External] Talk on Twain'ts at Mark Twain House & Museum

The Mark Twain House & Museum has uploaded the video of my talk there
last month: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.youtube.com_watch-3Fv-3D9n5Sj7e7sFc-26t-3D5s&d=DwIFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=JeKMqQu2KRlQeFtIo8vcv9Yk_Pyd2SREJxMLDJP5k1UbjwcGgEsGjMBvZ2WyVCQf&m=CLbKJkIiHx2T4PNyI5spgjiYjRa8_AkcZShKQEI8crSTh-AtOgETn728ORHMasWg&s=ryBLwvadb16lunIC6os-172UyJ6xRuB3sQrs1GfDBDM&e=


You can also access it by using these keywords at youtube: Mark Twain
House Mac Donnell

For any who don't know by now, Twain'ts are derivative uses of Twain's
name, aphorisms, themes, characters, titles, and even Twain himself in
writings by others, including novels, pastiches, parodies, advertising,
as wells as bookplates, beverages, and cigars. I focus mostly on
"printed" Twain'ts and generally exclude TV, movie, and dramatic
adaptations which are valid (and large) categories all by themselves.
I've identified more than 550 printed Twain'ts produced between 1870 and
2025, and present a slide-show of about 50 representative examples in
the talk. They range from humorous to tragic, from silly to serious, but
they are valuable evidence of the various ways each generation has
responded to Mark Twain.

Most of the rather small audience was sitting in the middle or back of
the auditorium, so you will only hear the questions and clapping of the
half-dozen people seated in the first five rows, but you might be able
to figure out the questions that were asked during the Q&A from my
answers. Then again, maybe not.

As always, I want to thank the staff at MTH&M for their hospitality--and
congratulate them on their new director!

Kevin
@
Mac Donnell Rare Books
9307 Glenlake Drive
Austin TX 78730
512-345-4139

You can browse our books at:
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.macdonnellrarebooks.com&d=DwIFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=JeKMqQu2KRlQeFtIo8vcv9Yk_Pyd2SREJxMLDJP5k1UbjwcGgEsGjMBvZ2WyVCQf&m=CLbKJkIiHx2T4PNyI5spgjiYjRa8_AkcZShKQEI8crSTh-AtOgETn728ORHMasWg&s=Igs9AIop7gsgyCrNeQqE2aqYWBOpNEnYrQ7YTb5cca0&e=