My gratitude goes out to Mr. H. Wonham and the Mark Twain Forum for the recent review of my book: Mark Twain and William James: Crafting a Free Self. Mr. Wonham's insights into the book's strengths and failings are useful and illuminating. He is especially on target when he questions the case I suggest for direct influence between Twain and James. More work needs done on the importance of the friendship these two men shared; for my part, as Mr. Wonham points out, I may have overread its importance in spots. But this question of direct influence is a non-crucial matter; more important for my book is the argument made from parallel ideas--which is one well-reinforced from Twain's reading and marginalia in his copies of James's work. I hope readers find my attempt to push parallels between James and Twain a fair and balanced one; without growing overinsistent, I tried to push these parallels to a legitimate point. The relation between Twain and James, and American pragmatism as Mr. Wonham points out,is a complicated one. Others will surely unravel more complex threads in this relationship;much more is to be done. May we continue to explore and celebrate the imaginative genius of Mark Twain. --Jason G. Horn