by Ian Perkin
First published 2020
Mark Twain sets sail across the Pacific Ocean on a lecture tour that will take him around the globe. The famous American author observes his fellow passengers and the ship's crew with his characteristic wit. He encounters the musical names of Australian towns and witnesses the political progress of women's suffrage in New Zealand. Twain records stories of the Sepoy Mutiny and contemplates the Boer War through the lens of imperial politics. His journey becomes a canvas for satirical commentary on foreign customs and nineteenth-century travel. Throughout the voyage, Twain applies his talent for stretching the truth and his insatiable curiosity about human nature. The book captures his distinctive humor as he navigates unfamiliar territories and cultures, creating a uniquely American perspective on international travel and social observation.
Genres: travel, humor, american, adventure, biography-memoir, 19th-century
Vibes: observant, thought-provoking, witty
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, travelogue
Setting: Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Ocean
Period: 19th Century
727 pages · Paperback · Independently published