David Ketterer surmises that Twain might have been aware that the nearest
full solar eclipse to 528 A.D. occurred on 1 September 538, but he argues
that "because Twain has symbolic reasons for the particular day and time,
historical accuracy is not to be expected" (New Worlds for Old, p. 218n).


-- 
Prof. Harold K. Bush
Professor of English
3800 Lindell
Saint Louis University
St. Louis, MO  63108
314-977-3616 (w); 314-771-6795 (h)
<www.slu.edu/x23809.xml>