IN> ....................... We can talk about the "autobiography," IN> in other words, but I doubt we'll ever read it. IN> Nick Mount IN> Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS Nick and Bill, Thanks for raising the bar. You both have sharpened excellent points on the head of Mr. Neider. I too prefer Paine. However, I don't have a passionate dislike for Neider; I have even been known to mention his name in mixed company, and I readily admit to owning nearly all of his works on Twain. Neider still provides the most Twain for the least dollars (excepting for Twain's World CD-Rom) I know about. SLC himself saw the need for "cheap" editions of our literary treasures. Where, then, is the "cheap" edition of Paine? BTW, I second Brent's notion for the "unabridged Autobiography" on CD-ROM. It's a brilliant idea. I'd buy such a work even if I had to go without scotch and cigars for a year. Indeed, Nick, it was Clemens' idea to attach 20,000 words or so of autobiography to new editions of his work so as to renew copyrights in favor of Jean and Clara, thereby securing their future. This seems to indicate that SLC had no vision of a completed book. In fact, I fancy that Clemens was so wise as to envision various editions being launched periodically, each one different, each one a bit more revealing, each one striking fresh fire in the world, until that time came when all things Clemens would erode to dust and dreams and cease to be of interest. Then, perhaps, the fully revealed facts of the Morris incident would be all that remained to echo on into eternity. Can one tell now what will be of untold value a thousand generations hence? I jest. Not. Paul Berkowitz ([log in to unmask])