FYI, I am writing a review of Steve Courtney's book for the Forum, which I 
hope to have ready before Christmas. But a brief preview might be 
appropriate--

The book's engaging narrative is nicely framed around an account `Mother' 
Fairbanks wrote of a tour she was given of the house in 1874 by the 
architect, Edward Tuckerman Potter. The illustrations are copious and 
stunning, with interior views taken during Twain's lifetime comingled with 
magnificent color images that show the house in its full glory today. There 
is also a good account of the sometimes hair-raising history of the house 
after it was sold by Twain. If you've taken a tour of this home this book 
will make you want to go back and see it again. If you've never seen the 
house in person and never have the chance to see it, this book is the 
next-best thing. For Twain scholars, no matter what you think you know about 
the Hartford home, you will learn something you didn't know by reading this 
book. And unlike most books about historic structures this book is 
well-indexed and solidly sourced. It conveys the "heart and soul" that Twain 
spoke of when describing his beloved home.

Full disclosure: p. 75 has a previously unpublished 1875 photo of Susy and 
Clara sitting on the ground outside the home with their German nursemaid, 
courtesy of yours truly, but the book is 144 pages long so there are 143 
other reasons to get a copy.

This book won't fit in a stocking (or on a Kindle), but it would make a 
welcome gift for any Twainian.

Kevin
@
Mac Donnell Rare Books
9307 Glenlake Drive
Austin TX 78730
512-345-4139
Member: ABAA, ILAB
*************************
You may browse our books at
www.macdonnellrarebooks.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Courtney" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 10:38 AM
Subject: New book on the Hartford house


Greetings!
=20
I'm taking my one free shot at self-promotion today to push my new book=2C =
'The Loveliest Home That Ever Was': The Story of the Mark Twain House in Ha=
rtford=2C published by Dover. It tells the house's story and includes marve=
lous new photos by John Groo=2C and a Foreword by Hal Holbrook (who tells m=
e he likes the book).
=20
Dover approached us late last year about doing this=2C and asked us if we h=
ad a writer on staff -- somehow  they came up with me=2C so I spent the fir=
st few months of this year putting this together -- a lot more quickly than=
 I've ever had to do such a thing=2C even in my newspaper days.
=20
But it seems to have come out all right. As you can imagine=2C it's selling=
 well here. The book=2C a large-format paperback with lavish color illustra=
tion=2C is 20 bucks and available through the usual outlets=2C including=2C=
 of course=2C the Mark Twain Museum Bookshop here: http://shop.marktwainhou=
se.org/.=20
=20
Dover's catalogue description is here: http://store.doverpublications.com/0=
486486346.html
=20
My emails to the Forum tend to get broken up with strange equal signs and o=
ther impedimenta=2C no matter what plain-text format I send them in=2C so I=
 hope this is relatively legible!
=20
All best=2C
Steve
=20
 =20



Steve Courtney
7 Union St.
Terryville=2C CT 06786
860-589-6412      =



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