Around the World with Mark Twain

Rating:
Summary: Innocents in Twain
Review: It was mere chance that my wife and I came to read this book. Previously our experience of Clemens/Twain was limited to films and television, both frequently the products of the producers rather than of Twain. We found Mr. Cooper's book to be absorbing. His narrative style is delightfully readable without inhibiting his attention to detail; in particular his comparisons between the conditions of then and now. We are indebted to this author for introducing us to the real Mark Twain.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful, leisurely read!
Review: My wife and I both enjoyed following the author following in the footsteps of Mark Twain. We could easily imagine ourselves with the author, visiting exotic and not so exotic locales, both a century ago along with Mark Twain and one hundred years later with the author. The stories about Mark Twain and the stories told by Mark Twain were both very enjoyable and gave us a flavor of the time and a feeling for the complex man. The observations about the changes and similarities in the world over the last century were fascinating.

Rating:
Summary: Poorly executed
Review: The idea for this book was a good one. Unfortunately, Cooper has no sense of humor and little writing ability. I'm afraid I abandoned the journey in Australia.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful, leisurely read!
Review: This is a transparent attempt by an untalented writer to use Mark Twain's name to sell books. The book doesn't merit enough of my attention to write more.

Rating:
Summary: When I was a kid Mark Twain . . .
Review: was a favorite author of mine. I bought the book based on the title alone thinking I would be riding through casinos and chasing women trying to amass a fortune that was lost. I was right, but not in the way I expected. The book takes you with Mark Twain but he is not the main character of the story. Mark Twain is a steamboat and you are left in the wake of his journeys to ponder what the world was like 100 years ago. What initially was a disappoint to me was quickly replaced by actually checking the facts that the author had written (okay I only checked a few) and enjoying a book that I think most would enjoy. The fifth star is not there because had I known what the book was about I probably wouldn't have bought it. Don't make that mistake if you enjoy Mark Twain, history or both.