Chasing the Last Laugh
How Mark Twain Escaped Debt and Disgrace with a Round-the-World Comedy Tour
By Richard Zacks | Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
About the book
In the 1890s, Mark Twain came back from the dead. The famous author’s career was collapsing, his masterpieces were at risk of falling into oblivion, and he was even mistakenly reported dead. But Twain orchestrated an amazing late-in-life comeback from bankruptcy, bad reviews, and family disaster by setting out on an unprecedented international comedy tour to restore his fortunes. Richard Zacks’s Chasing the Last Laugh captures some of Twain’s cleverest and funniest moments—many newly discovered in unpublished notebooks and letters—as he rode elephants in India, sorted diamonds in South Africa, and talked his way out of hell ninety minutes at a time. This untold chapter in the author’s life began with ridiculously bad choices and ended in hard-won triumph.
Editions of Chasing the Last Laugh
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780385536448
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780345802538
- EBook
- ISBN 9780385536455
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780553551167
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780553551181
- AudioDisc
- ISBN 9780553551150
- AudioDisc
- ISBN 9780553551174
Read an Excerpt
In the 1890s, Mark Twain came back from the dead. The famous author’s career was collapsing, his masterpieces were at risk of falling into oblivion, and he was even mistakenly reported dead. But Twain orchestrated an amazing late-in-life comeback from bankruptcy, bad reviews, and family disaster by setting out on an unprecedented international comedy tour to restore his fortunes. Richard Zacks’s Chasing the Last Laugh captures some of Twain’s cleverest and funniest moments—many newly discovered in unpublished notebooks and letters—as he rode elephants in India, sorted diamonds in South Africa, and talked his way out of hell ninety minutes at a time. This untold chapter in the author’s life began with ridiculously bad choices and ended in hard-won triumph.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chasing the Last Laugh about?
In the 1890s, Mark Twain came back from the dead. The famous author’s career was collapsing, his masterpieces were at risk of falling into oblivion, and he was even mistakenly reported dead. But Twain orchestrated an amazing late-in-life comeback from bankruptcy, bad reviews, and family disaster by setting out on an unprecedented international comedy tour to restore his fortunes. Richard Zacks’s Chasing the Last Laugh captures some of Twain’s cleverest and funniest moments—many newly discovered in unpublished notebooks and letters—as he rode elephants in India, sorted diamonds in South Africa, and talked his way out of hell ninety minutes at a time. This untold chapter in the author’s life began with ridiculously bad choices and ended in hard-won triumph.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Chasing the Last Laugh?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Biography and non-fiction prose > Biography: general > Biography: historical, political and military
Where can I read a sample of Chasing the Last Laugh?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780385536448
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Chasing the Last Laugh?
Richard Zacks
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Chasing the Last Laugh is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780385536448) and paperback(ISBN 9780345802538) and ebook(ISBN 9780385536455) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780553551167) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780553551181) and audiodisc(ISBN 9780553551150) and audiodisc(ISBN 9780553551174)
Where can I buy Chasing the Last Laugh online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy Chasing the Last Laugh?