The word "imagining" is used to describe these little fictional pieces, all based on historical figures and events, but they are not represented by Oates to be accurate historical narratives, or traditional "historical fiction." Fair enough, but I have to wonder what is the point of basing an "imagining" or "fiction" or "what-if" or "whatever" on an historical figure if you are not going to somehow reflect, explore, spoof, or even invert the essential character upon which you based your work? My impression was that Oates did not know enough about Twain's character to do any of those things even if that's what she intended. I guess if she'd read Ham Hill, and the recent books by Karen Lystra, Ron Powers, Tom Quirk, John Cooley's book on the angelfish, and Barb Schmidt's online article on the angelfish, Oates might have had a dandy story to tell indeed. Now I've gone and used "indeed" at the end of a sentence. I must stop. Do tell. Kevin Mac Donnell Austin TX