P.S. -- Among the books not mentioned in the recommended books on Twain was Shelley Fishkin's "Lighting Out for the Territory," a really fine, and often very funny, exploration of Sam's place in, and influence upon, our culture. I've written at least a dozen pieces in one form or another in that same context on Sam over the last decade or so. In one of them, I interviewed Lewis Lapham of Harper's (this was in '96 or '97) after he published a rather excoriating essay on AHF by, gack, I forget, which stirred up quite a stew. He readily admitted, however, that he was a sucker for controversy and was delighted by the responses from all sides. I paraphrase, but he said in effect that the controversy still percolates on after 130 years is perhaps the best tribute that could be paid Sam. Kathy O'Connell