This book is a fresh appraisal of the writer who made American fiction and travel writing popular worldwide. Looking at his life and his body of writing, this book recounts tales of the young Samuel Clemens learning of other worlds from slaves and playing with ghostly friends in the Hannibal cemetery. The majority of Twain's writings reflect his personal life experiences, including his connections with the paranormal. He also helped pioneer the beginnings of science fiction and fantasy writing. Accompanying the text, which recounts the story of Mark Twain's adventuresome life and his diverse body of work, are over 40 photos of the man and his surroundings. For readers seeking a unique perspective on an impressive writer, this is it.