Mark Twain's Autobiography: With An Introduction by Albert Bigelow Paine - Volume I is a fascinating glimpse into the life and mind of one of America's most beloved authors. As a fan of Twain's work, I was eager to dive into his personal history and was not disappointed.

The book is filled with Twain's signature wit and charm, as he recounts his early years growing up in Missouri, his time working as a steamboat pilot, and his adventures as a writer and world traveler. His anecdotes are both entertaining and insightful, providing readers with a deeper understanding of the man behind the literary legend.

I particularly enjoyed the introduction by Albert Bigelow Paine, which provides valuable context and background information on Twain's life and work. Paine's insights help to frame Twain's autobiography in a broader historical and biographical context, adding depth to the reading experience.

Overall, Mark Twain's Autobiography: With An Introduction by Albert Bigelow Paine - Volume I is a must-read for fans of Twain's writing and anyone interested in American literature. It offers a rare glimpse into the mind of a literary giant and leaves readers eager for more.

Book Description:
While the Mark Twain Project has created and released a three-volume Mark Twain autobiography with extensive annotations, in the 21st century, this two-volume autobiography was published in 1924 and contains many works never before released. It came 14 years after Twain's death and so, "speaking from the grave", he felt he could be "as frank and free and unembarrassed as a love letter". The autobiographical chapters that he published years earlier in the North American Review, were selected more for their acceptability and potential popularity than for their completely true reflection of his inner thoughts. With the publication of Mark Twain's Autobiography in 1924, the world was introduced to a much more frank and less restrained Twain than had heretofore been seen or heard. This partial Autobiography, in two volumes, consisting of about two-fifths of his known material, was compiled by a personal friend and literary executor Albert Bigelow Paine, who at the time had exclusive access to Twain's papers. - Summary by John Greenman and Wikipedia