Bought and purchased. Cannot wait to read! On Aug 16, 2013, at 4:00 PM, Kevin Mac Donnell <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > The writer of the Vanity Fair burlesque did not get the term "mark twain" > from steamboat or riverboat usage. He got it from usage (along with other > nautical terms not used on the rivers) from ocean-going vessels where it has > a very different meaning than when used on a river, and I explain that > meaning in my article, and why Twain particularly did not want his nom de > plume to be associated with that other usage. > > As authors, often say: "buy the book" although in this case all you have to > do is buy the MTJ. > > 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: "Ben Wise" <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Friday, August 16, 2013 3:10 PM > Subject: Re: Link to article in Kansas City Star > > >> Yes. I'm no MT scholar, to say the least, but the essence of Dustin's >> points have seemed likely to me since Kevin's discovery was first posted >> here: First, that it's almost certain, is it not, that the author of the >> Vanity Fair article derived the name from the same nautical reference that >> Clemens has been reputed to have done? And second for that reason, its >> appearance in an article he read could have been an echo of something he'd >> thought of before or since for his own reasons. In other words, I'd submit >> that reports that he'd plagiarized his pen name are greatly exaggerated. >> But then, what do I know? >> >> Ben >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Dustin Zima" <[log in to unmask]> >> To: [log in to unmask] >> Sent: Friday, August 16, 2013 2:56:12 PM >> Subject: Re: Link to article in Kansas City Star >> >> I have a quick question for the forum regarding Kevin's incredible >> discover= >> y.? Let me set it up first:? Sam began as a cub pilot in 1857; he received >> = >> his pilot's license in 1859.? The article that Kevin found is from 1861.? >> H= >> e adopts the moniker in 1863, which very well could have been as a result >> o= >> f the Vanity Fair article.? However, how does this conclusively rule out >> th= >> e previous assumptions/educated guesses as to the nom de plum ?? >> Furthermor= >> e, this leads me to at least question--most respectfully--Kevin's >> conclusio= >> n that the use of "Mark Twain" in the Vanity Fair article, combined with >> th= >> e assertion that it was a publication that Sam had read or been aware of, >> "= >> provides simple, logical answers to dangling questions, is contradicted by >> = >> no known facts," and that "everything fits like a glove."? Would Sam not >> ha= >> ve already been aware of the term's adaptability into a believable >> pen-name= >> ?? Perhaps not since he did not christen himself "Mark Twain" until >> 1863--t= >> wo years after the Vanity Fair article.? However he was interested in >> writi= >> ng before becoming a cub pilot, and the years during his piloting days >> were= >> profoundly influential to Sam as a writer/thinker/observer--see Life on >> th= >> e Mississippi.? Would Sam not have been led more by his cherished days of >> p= >> iloting, specifically the language from those days? ? ? ?=20 >> =20 >> >> =20 >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Kevin Mac Donnell <[log in to unmask]> >> To: TWAIN-L <[log in to unmask]> >> Sent: Fri, Aug 16, 2013 12:37 pm >> Subject: Link to article in Kansas City Star >> >> =20 >> =20 >> =20 >> Martin Zehr did a fine write-up about my piece for which I want to thank >> hi= >> =3D=20 >> m in this very public forum among colleagues.=20 >> =20 >> I hope those whose previous research on Mark Twain are cited in my article >> = >> =3D=20 >> will accept those citations as my way of saying thanks to them for their >> in= >> =3D=20 >> sights and hard work that suggested avenues of research and provided >> numero= >> =3D=20 >> us clues that led me to my conclusions --whether or not you even agree >> with= >> =3D=20 >> my conclusions.=20 >> =20 >> I also hope that those who are not already subscribers to the Mark Twain >> Jo= >> =3D=20 >> urnal will remedy that grievous oversight. The MTJ deserves the support of >> = >> =3D=20 >> all Twainians.=20 >> =20 >> Here's the link to Martin Zehr's piece in the Kansas City Star: =20 >> =20 >> http://www.kansascity.com/2013/08/16/4413137/a-new-theory-seems-the-best-e= >> =3D=20 >> xplanation.html =20 >> =20 >> If the crush of fame becomes overwhelming, you will find me hiding, many >> da= >> =3D=20 >> ys out, under a nom de plume that's Twainian, yet reflects my Irish >> heritag= >> =3D=20 >> e-- Begum O'Bengal. =20 >> =20 >> Kevin=20 >> @=20 >> Mac Donnell Rare Books=20 >> 9307 Glenlake Drive=20 >> Austin TX 78730=20 >> 512-345-4139=20 >> Member: ABAA, ILAB=20 >> *************************=20 >> You may browse our books at =20 >> www.macdonnellrarebooks.com=20 >> =20 >> =20 >> =20 >> -----=20 >> No virus found in this message.=20 >> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com=20 >> Version: 2013.0.3392 / Virus Database: 3211/6582 - Release Date: 08/16/13= >> =20 >> =20 >> >> =20 >> >> >> >> ----- >> No virus found in this message. >> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >> Version: 2013.0.3392 / Virus Database: 3211/6582 - Release Date: 08/16/13 > > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2013.0.3392 / Virus Database: 3211/6582 - Release Date: 08/16/13