Mark Twain, travel books, and tourism
Subtitle: the tide of a great popular movement
By: Jeffrey Alan Melton.
Series: Studies in American literary realism and naturalism
Publisher: University of Alabama Press
Published: 2002
Place of publication: Tuscaloosa, Ala; London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 200
Subjects: Twain, Mark, -- 1835-1910 -- Contributions in travel writing.; Popular culture -- United States -- History -- 19th century.; Americans -- Foreign countries -- History -- 19th century.; Travelers' writings, American -- History and criticism.; Voyages and travels -- History -- 19th century.; Travel writing -- History -- 19th century.; Tourism -- History -- 19th century.
Description: "In this work, Jeffrey Melton asserts that it was no coincidence that Mark Twain made such extensive use of the travel-writing genre or that so many readers loved these narratives. Twain recognized the lucrative sales potential of travel books and capitalized on it throughout a varied and formidable career; consistently, his travel books proved to be his best-sellers. As Melton illustrates, to ensure his success, Twain had to be more than a clever author; he also had to be a clever tourist.

Grounding this study in tourist theory, Melton explores how, in five travel books, Twain captures the birth and growth of a new creature who would go on to change the map of the world: the American tourist."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [183]-196) and index.