Mark Twain's Letters — Volume 4 (1886-1900)

A lively collection of Mark Twain’s letters from the late‑1880s to the turn of the century opens a window onto his bustling domestic world. In these missives he recounts holiday theatricals at the Clemens home, the frantic preparations for a family staging of The Prince and the Pauper, and the practical concerns of inviting friends from Boston. Interwoven with wit are candid updates on his finances, revealing a writer who balances creative ambition with the realities of debt and profit.

Beyond the humor, the letters unveil a tender, almost hidden side of Twain’s family life. He shares the startling confession of his mother’s decades‑old secret romance—a youthful love that lingered in her memory until old age, revealed only through a shy, heartfelt note. This glimpse of private sentiment offers listeners an intimate portrait of the man behind the legend, showing how personal history and literary fame intersect in his everyday correspondence.