The Mark Twain Forum needs a reviewer for the following book: Krauth, Leland. _Proper Mark Twain_. Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1999. Pp. xvi + 304. Notes, bibliography, index. Cloth, 6-1/4" x 9". $29.95. ISBN 0-8203-2106-0. A description of the book is available at www.barnesandnoble.com, an excerpt of which follows: _Proper Mark Twain_ redefines the persona of the humorist to include this bounded Twain, who affirms the dominant values of Victorian America. Largely overlooked or sidestepped in critical commentaries, the proper Twain informs all of the writer's major works. He also appears in the early western writings, the personal courtship letters, and the final autobiographical dictations. The proper Twain confirms and upholds humorously what the transgressive Twain seems to subvert. Krauth finds manifestations of the conventional in Twain's cultural imperialism, literary domesticity, sentimentality, commitment to progress, and even his humor. Further, he argues persuasively that the bounded Twain speaks not only to appease his culture but to express deeply held convictions. This meticulous study aims to determine just how orthodox Twain was and to what extent he was a product of the culture he seemed to oppose. To see the proper Mark Twain, Krauth explains, is to understand how Twain saw himself and what he meant to convey to his audience. Throughout his career, Twain longed to be seen as more than a mere humorist, claiming, as his, qualities dear to the Victorian heart: seriousness, morality, and pathos. He contended that gravity and tender feeling are "absolutely essential" in a humorist. Upholding the elite culture he seemed to challenge, the proper Mark Twain even hoped to cultivate the masses. Krauth's study uncovers a seldom-seen side of America's most important humorist. As usual, the review must be of publishable quality, and it would be due within two months of your receipt of the book (i.e., due late-April 2000). The deadline is particularly important, as we are making every effort for Forum reviews to appear before print reviews. If you are inclined to procrastinate, please don't offer to review this book. If you would like to see the general content and style of Forum reviews, please browse the reviews page at TwainWeb: http://web.mit.edu/linguistics/www/forum/reviews/ A link to the style sheet is at the bottom of the reviews page. If you're interested in writing a review, please send me both your home and institutional mailing addresses and phone numbers. If I don't know you already, it would be helpful for you to explain in what respect you're qualified to write the review. (If we haven't exchanged e-mail recently, it might be a good idea for you to remind me of this info.) I look forward to hearing from you. Taylor Roberts <[log in to unmask]> Book review editor, Mark Twain Forum ------> Please note <------ Include your address when you volunteer, as this will help me get the book in the mail for you quickly