Jerry O'Brien writes:
> Was switched identies a preoccupation with Twain or, was it a reflection
of
> parts of society. (snip)   Do any
> of you think that this type of behavior is some part of the Tennessee,
> Kentucky, and maybe Missouri culture?

I would reckon that it is part of world culture if you are suffering from an
overflowing imagination, boredom, or, in the cases you are describing, if
you
have to fear retribution. The use of pseudonyms in political literature is a
case in point, of course, but the reason for inventing or adopting a
"different"
personality are not always as serious as that. i vividly remember enlivening
a
boring train ride by telling invented but allegedly autobiographical stories
to
a bunch of unruly kids (their grandmother was grateful...). People like to
"morph" themselves. Even the most boring and dull creatures in this country
will
put on a funny hat for Karneval.

Dr. Wolfgang Hochbruck
University of Stuttgart / Germany