Allie, You might take a look at Twain's years in Nevada. He was a reporter at a newspaper called the "Territorial Enterprise." A scholar by the name of Lawrence Berkove has written a number of articles on the way that Twain's colleagues at the "Territorial Enterprise" shaped him as a writer, humorist, and social critic. In particular, Berkove's essay "Ethical Records of Twain and His Circle of Sagebrush Journalists" is outstanding. It was published as a Quarry Farm Paper. If your library doesn't have a copy, call Barb Snedecor at The Center for Mark Twain Studies at Quarry Farm on the campus of Elmira College--she'll be able to get you a copy. Good luck. Best, Joe Csicsila