Mark Twain’s Book of Animals (Jumping Frogs: Undiscovered, Rediscovered, and Celebrated Writings of Mark Twain) edited by Shelley Fisher Fishkin

1998

Order from: Oxford University Press

Longtime admirers of Mark Twain are aware of how integral animals were to his work as a writer, from his first stories through his final years, including many pieces that were left unpublished at his death. This beautiful volume, illustrated with 30 new images by master engraver Barry Moser, gathers writings from the full span of Mark Twain’s career and elucidates his special attachment to and regard for animals. What may surprise even longtime readers and fans is that Twain was an early and ardent animal welfare advocate, the most prominent American of his day to take up that cause. Edited and selected by Shelley Fisher Fishkin, who has also supplied an introduction and afterword, Mark Twain’s Book of Animals includes stories that are familiar along with those that are appearing in print for the first time.

Reviews 

"For those unaware—as I was until I read this book—that Mark Twain was one of America's early animal advocates, Shelley Fisher Fishkin's collection of his writings on animals will come as a revelation. Many of these pieces are as fresh and lively as when they were first written, and it's wonderful to have them gathered in one place." —Peter Singer, author of Animal Liberation and The Life You Can Save

“A truly exhilarating work. Mark Twain's animal-friendly views would not be out of place today, and indeed, in certain respects, Twain is still ahead of us: claiming, correctly, that there are certain degraded practices that only humans inflict on one another and upon other animals. Fishkin has done a splendid job: I cannot remember reading something so consistently excellent."—Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, author of When Elephants Weep and The Face on Your Plate

"Shelley Fisher Fishkin has given us the lifelong arc of the great man's antic, hilarious, and subtly profound explorations of the animal world, and she's guided us through it with her own trademark wit and acumen. Dogged if she hasn't." —Ron Powers, author of Dangerous Water: A Biography of the Boy Who Became Mark Twain and Mark Twain: A Life

"Fishkin reports that Mark Twain's career-long fascination with instinctual yet intelligent creatures inspired Chuck E. Jones's creation of cartoon icons Wile E. Coyote and Bugs Bunny. Fishkin, director of American studies at Stanford and a Mark Twain authority, showcases the humorist's shrewd observations of both exotic and common animals, including his nemesis, the housefly (I would go out of my way, and put aside my dearest occupation, to kill a fly). She contrasts intentionally educational yet humorous commentary with a brutally detailed exposé on cockfighting and a denunciation of vivisection. This collection of letters, stories, travelogues and personal recollections—some appearing in print for the first time—effectively juxtaposes witty morality with bitterness manifested in his later work in which he rails against microbes and an uncaring Creator after losing three children to illness. Fishkin presents a lucid opening essay and informative endnotes. Animal lovers and fiction readers alike will want to read this illustration of an unfamiliar facet of an American literary giant. The anthology succinctly represents Twain's admiration for the animal kingdom and relentless optimism in the face of human inadequacies.” —Publishers Weekly 

“A work that can easily be enjoyed by the casual reader of Twain and certainly qualifies as an essential volume for the devoted Twain scholar.” —  Mark Twain Forum 

“This collection is as entertaining, visceral, sardonic and chastising as any of his [Twain’s] major works.. and also serves as a window on the man himself, as acute observer of his own species and unhesitating hurler of ‘animosity’ toward those who would maltreat members of his all-inclusive animal kingdom.”—Kansas City Star

 “Brings together full stories, sketches, and brief passages that demonstrate Twain’s unique voice, skill as a writer, compassion, and humor. To enliven the proceedings, master engraver Barry Moser has created 30 images—portraits really—of the lead characters in crisp and detailed black and white. The engravings bring home the directness to Twain’s prose and add a special sense of wonder to this charming yet sobering book.” — The Bloomsbury Review

“Damn near flawless. . . . The perfect holiday gift-book. . . . Mark Twain’s Book of Animals serves its readers up America’s greatest humorist in all his moods–serious, knee-slapping, crusading, sentimental, etc. The key common note is that wonderful, inimitable voice we all know as if by instinct. . . . Any intelligently edited new Twain collection is always a welcome thing, and this volume is one of the best. Readers are urged not to miss it.”— Open Letters Blog

“Handsomely illustrated by Barry Moser, this collection pulls together all of the key animal tales, ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime.” — Cleveland Plain Dealer

“Among those items near and dear to me are books, animals, Mark Twain and engravings - a short, snappy list that (gee, golly) can all be found in the new UC Press book "Mark Twain's Book of Animals," edited by Shelley Fisher Fishkin, with illustrations by master engraver Barry Moser. It's one of the most attractive books I've come across recently.”— Cruzio.com’s Books And Authors Blog