The Lightning-Bug and the Lightning: Debunking the Myths of Mark Twain, in His Own Words

Summary

A critical biography contextualizing major events from Twain’s life as they pertain to his writing and modern legacy, from the bestselling author of the Edgar Allan Poe biography A Mystery of Mysteries.

“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. ’tis the difference between the lightning-bug and the lightning.”—Mark Twain

Mark Twain warned us of the many problems we find ourselves facing today. He cautioned us, often in ferociously humorous ways, about the things that would be used to divide us: politics, religion, prejudice, ignorance, bigotry, financial disparity, class warfare, envy, greed, and more. At a time that has seen him gradually dropped out of curriculum in public and private schools, The Lightning-Bug and the Lightning explores why we need to be listening to Mark Twain’s words, now more than ever.

In the style of his bestselling Edgar Allan Poe biography A Mystery of Mysteries, Mark Dawidziak draws not only on his decades of research as an internationally recognized Twain scholar, but also his 45 years of playing Twain on stage, which has given him first-hand familiarity with the effect Mark Twain’s words have on an audience, and why Mark Twain does indeed matter.

Along the way, Dawidziak will also draw on the many discussions he has had over the decades with such winners of the Mark Twain Prize as Carl Reiner, George Carlin, Lily Tomlin, Bob Newhart, Neil Simon, and Carol Burnett, as well as Twain scholars, biographers, documentarians (Ken Burns, most prominent among them) and fans, including many actors who played him (Hal Holbrook, Jason Robards, James Garner).

Provocative, poignant, at times heartbreaking, and often hilarious, The Lightning-Bug and the Lightning will shatter the myths, misconceptions, and stereotypes that have surrounded Twain once and for all.