FYI, I am writing a review of Steve Courtney's book for the Forum, which I hope to have ready before Christmas. But a brief preview might be appropriate-- The book's engaging narrative is nicely framed around an account `Mother' Fairbanks wrote of a tour she was given of the house in 1874 by the architect, Edward Tuckerman Potter. The illustrations are copious and stunning, with interior views taken during Twain's lifetime comingled with magnificent color images that show the house in its full glory today. There is also a good account of the sometimes hair-raising history of the house after it was sold by Twain. If you've taken a tour of this home this book will make you want to go back and see it again. If you've never seen the house in person and never have the chance to see it, this book is the next-best thing. For Twain scholars, no matter what you think you know about the Hartford home, you will learn something you didn't know by reading this book. And unlike most books about historic structures this book is well-indexed and solidly sourced. It conveys the "heart and soul" that Twain spoke of when describing his beloved home. Full disclosure: p. 75 has a previously unpublished 1875 photo of Susy and Clara sitting on the ground outside the home with their German nursemaid, courtesy of yours truly, but the book is 144 pages long so there are 143 other reasons to get a copy. This book won't fit in a stocking (or on a Kindle), but it would make a welcome gift for any Twainian. Kevin @ Mac Donnell Rare Books 9307 Glenlake Drive Austin TX 78730 512-345-4139 Member: ABAA, ILAB ************************* You may browse our books at www.macdonnellrarebooks.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Courtney" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 10:38 AM Subject: New book on the Hartford house Greetings! =20 I'm taking my one free shot at self-promotion today to push my new book=2C = 'The Loveliest Home That Ever Was': The Story of the Mark Twain House in Ha= rtford=2C published by Dover. It tells the house's story and includes marve= lous new photos by John Groo=2C and a Foreword by Hal Holbrook (who tells m= e he likes the book). =20 Dover approached us late last year about doing this=2C and asked us if we h= ad a writer on staff -- somehow they came up with me=2C so I spent the fir= st few months of this year putting this together -- a lot more quickly than= I've ever had to do such a thing=2C even in my newspaper days. =20 But it seems to have come out all right. As you can imagine=2C it's selling= well here. The book=2C a large-format paperback with lavish color illustra= tion=2C is 20 bucks and available through the usual outlets=2C including=2C= of course=2C the Mark Twain Museum Bookshop here: http://shop.marktwainhou= se.org/.=20 =20 Dover's catalogue description is here: http://store.doverpublications.com/0= 486486346.html =20 My emails to the Forum tend to get broken up with strange equal signs and o= ther impedimenta=2C no matter what plain-text format I send them in=2C so I= hope this is relatively legible! =20 All best=2C Steve =20 =20 Steve Courtney 7 Union St. Terryville=2C CT 06786 860-589-6412 = ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.1873 / Virus Database: 2108/4677 - Release Date: 12/12/11 ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2012.0.1873 / Virus Database: 2108/4677 - Release Date: 12/12/11