A travel memoir by Mark Twain about the Mississippi River. It recalls his youthful years learning to pilot steamboats and later a journey down the river, blending history, humor and local colour. For listeners, it offers a vivid portrait of river life and a bygone America.
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Cover of the original edition (Project Gutenberg, public domain).
Text source: gutenberg.org · The work is in the public domain.
Opening of the book
LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI BY MARK TWAIN spine.jpg (33K) front2.jpg (30K) titlepage.jpg (62K) TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I. The Mississippi is Well worth Reading about.—It is
Remarkable.— Instead of Widening towards its Mouth, it grows Narrower.— It Empties four hundred and six million Tons of Mud.—It was First Seen in 1542. —It is Older than some Pages in European History.—De Soto has the Pull.—Older than the Atlantic Coast.—Some Half-breeds chip in.—La Salle Thinks he will Take a Hand. CHAPTER II. La Salle again Appears, and so does a Cat-fish.—Buffaloes also. —Some Indian Paintings are Seen on the Rocks.—“The Father of Waters “does not Flow into the Pacific.—More History and Indians. —Some Curious Performances—not Early English.—Natchez, or the Site of it, is Approached. CHAPTER III. A little History.—Early Commerce.—Coal Fleets and Timber Rafts. —We start on a Voyage.—I seek Information.—Some Music.—The Trouble begins.—Tall Talk.—The Child of Calamity.—Ground and lofty Tumbling.—The Wash-up.—Business and Statistics.— Mysterious Band.—Thunder and Lightning.—The Captain speaks. —Allbright weeps.—The Mystery settled.—Chaff.—I am Discovered. —Some Art-work proposed.—I give an Account of Myself.— Released. CHAPTER IV. The Boys' Ambition.—Village Scenes.—Steamboat Pictures. —A Heavy Swell.—A Runaway. CHAPTER V. A Traveller.—A Lively Talker.—A Wild-cat Victim CHAPTER VI. Besieging the Pilot.—Taken along.—Spoiling a Nap.—Fishing for a
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