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Mark Twain's Burlesque Autobiography cover

Mark Twain's Burlesque Autobiography

A comic self-portrait offers a mock genealogy and a string of tall, self-mocking anecdotes that lampoon family histories and personal pretensions. The tone then shifts to a parody of medieval romance that escalates from festivities through complications to shocking revelations and an exaggerated catastrophe. Both sections rely on irony, hyperbole, and playful narrative asides to subvert solemn conventions of biography and chivalric storytelling, mixing short vignettes, caricatured incidents, and satirical commentary on lineage, honor, and melodramatic plot mechanics.

By Mark Twain
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American LiteratureHumour

About This Book

A comic self-portrait offers a mock genealogy and a string of tall, self-mocking anecdotes that lampoon family histories and personal pretensions. The tone then shifts to a parody of medieval romance that escalates from festivities through complications to shocking revelations and an exaggerated catastrophe. Both sections rely on irony, hyperbole, and playful narrative asides to subvert solemn conventions of biography and chivalric storytelling, mixing short vignettes, caricatured incidents, and satirical commentary on lineage, honor, and melodramatic plot mechanics.

About the Author

Twain, Mark portrait

Mark Twain

Mark Twain, the pen name of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, was an American author and humorist known for his sharp wit and keen observations of human nature. Born in 1835, he gained fame with works that often explored themes of race, identity, and society in America. His most notable novel, "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," is celebrated for its innovative narrative style and profound social commentary. Twain's other significant work, "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court," showcases his satirical take on the clash between modernity and medievalism. His legacy endures as a cornerstone of American literature, influencing countless writers and shaping the literary landscape.

More Books by This Author

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1601: Conversation as it was by the Social Fireside in the Time of the Tudors cover 1601: Conversation as it was by the Social Fireside in the Time of the Tudors by Mark Twain A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court cover A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 1. cover A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 1. by Mark Twain A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 2. cover A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 2. by Mark Twain A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 3. cover A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 3. by Mark Twain A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 4. cover A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 4. by Mark Twain

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