Thursday, August 20, 2020

A Look Back At Mark Twain's Journalism & Early Life: 'Scribblin' For A Livin': Mark Twain's Pivotal Period in Buffalo'


As I noted in a previous post, Malcolm Muggeridge, the late British journalist, author and editor of Britain's late, great weekly satirical magazine, Punch, once said that he never tired of reading Mark Twain or reading about him. 

Although I don’t always agree with Mark Twain’s worldview, I share that notion. Mark Twain is one of my favorite writers.

I’ve read nearly everything written by Mark Twain and nearly everything written about him.

One book about Mark Twain that has escaped me until now is Thomas J. Reigstad’s Scribblin’ for a Livin’: Mark Twain’s Pivotal Period in Buffalo.

I just finished reading this wonderful account of Mark Twain’s brief time in Buffalo.

During this time, Mark Twain married, moved into a mansion his wealthy father-in-law gave his daughter and her husband, and became a part-owner and co-editor of the Buffalo Express newspaper.

He also lost his first child in Buffalo and he began working on Roughing It, one of my favorite Mark Twain books.

The book also offers some of Mark Twain’s Buffalo Express pieces.

So if you’re interested in the life of Mark Twain, American literature and the history of journalism, I recommend Scribblin’ for a Livin’.      

You can purchase the book via the below link:




Note: Another fine book about Mark Twain is Richard Zacks' Chasing the Last Laugh: Mark Twain's Raucous and Redemptive Round-the-World Comedy Tour. 

I reviewed the book for the Philadelphia Inquirer. You can read the review below: 



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