I’d like to mention that I have begun research for a possible essay for the 
general reader about Susan Bailey’s discovery and her seven-plus years of 
research. I met Susan in February, when we happened to converge in Hartford to 
see Hal Holbrook at his 90th birthday performance. Susan sent me home with a 
copy of her book, and, like many other Twainians, I found her story 
fascinating and thought it deserved more attention than it has received. That 
is my goal as, consulting with Susan and her co-author Deb Gosselin, I try to 
retrace their many trails and forge new ones in search of further evidence. My 
focus is on the documentary record, which at the moment is suggestive but 
slight. I have been in touch with a few Forum faithfuls about this project, 
and I welcome research suggestions from anyone else who has read Susan and 
Deb’s book and followed the story. 
David Carkeet  
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