Today's LA TIMES newspaper contains a book review of _HERMAN MELVILLE: A Biography, Vol. 2, 1851-1891_, By Hershel Parker, The review was written by Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and director of the Eisenhower Center for American Studies at the University of New Orleans. Brinkley writes, in part: "And in "The Confidence Man," Melville conjures up a gallery of charlatans, rogues and tricksters who transform the Father of Waters into the Father of Lies. Their journey from St. Louis to New Orleans is a mockery of frontier mythmaking of the Mike Fink variety. An annoyed Mark Twain wrote "Life on the Mississippi," in part, to set Melville straight about the virtues of steam-boating." _Mark Twain's Library: A Reconstruction_ contains no volumes written by Melville listed in Twain's library or further referenced elsewhere in Twain's writings. Is the reviewer Douglas Brinkley in error on this statement? Or has the Melville influence/motivation been firmly established via other evidence? Thanks, Barb