Wow, this is some very sad news to wake up to on a Monday morning.  It's a
real major hit to the Twain community, but we all join Michael's family and
community in Elmira in missing him already, and remembering him today.

When I spent time in Elmira, I had a few opportunities to get to know
Michael outside of the conference-type settings, and I have fond memories of
Michael as a host.  I recall one day earlier in my career, sitting in a
coffee shop and listening to him talk about his own reading and writing; it
was one of those meetings that has lingered in my mind over many years.  He
gave me some great ideas about my own work that stayed with me-- and I doubt
if he was even really trying to do something like that, it just sort of came
out.  I always looked up to him as a Twain scholar and as a very sharp
critic; he'll be missed, and already is.




-- 
Harold K. Bush, Ph.D
Professor of English
Saint Louis University
St. Louis, MO  63108
314-977-3616 (w); 314-771-6795 (h)
<www.slu.edu/x23809.xml>