<<none of those really seem "noirish", but i understand
that his later works, like _the mysterious stranger_, are
darker.>>
Yes, much darker. The Mysterious Stranger is a magical book.
I recently reread it as part of the Library of America Twain
collection. This particular volume has the two Sawyer
sequels, both very interesting books, as well as the comic
masterpieces The Gilded Age and The American Claimant. Superb
stuff, all of it. In scope, wit and stealth, Twain has no
rival. Besides, he's readable, something one cannot say of
all great American writers. With his rough-and-tumble
journalistic style, Twain can say more than a thousand
academics writing about themselves or other academics (not
fair: everybody can say more than academics writing about
themselves or other academics, no offense, I am one of them,
etc.)
Actually, it seems that Twain was dark all along. He lived in
an interesting era -- it was not hard for him to find what to
get mad about... never end a sentence with a
prepucition.
To be precise about noir vs. hardboiled, Twain was mentioned
here as the father of the realistic school of American
writing, which includes hardboiled (particularly hardboiled
dialogue) and some noir as well.
Best, and it's too damn hot in here.
MrT
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