This comprehensive collection of Twain's short stories showcases his immense talent, humor, and wit. Considered to be the greatest American humorist of all time, Mark Twain was born in 1835 and was raised in Hannibal, Missouri, where many of his most well-known stories take place. Twain led an adventurous life: working as a type setter for his brother's newspaper as a young man, then as a riverboat pilot on the Missouri river, followed by a stint as a miner in Nevada and California, and then finally as a journalist and writer, where he found success and fame. These experiences would form the basis of many of his most famous tales, such as "The Celebrated Jumping Frog from Calaveras County," the first story to bring him national attention and fame and was based on a tale he heard while mining in California. While Twain may be best known for his accomplishments as a novelist, this collection of short stories spanning his lengthy and prolific career showcases his brilliant ability to create fascinating characters, his expert plotting, and his unrivaled wit and humor. This edition includes a biographical afterword.