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Mark Twain Papers and Project : Project

Preeminent center for the preservation of Twain’s writing, memory, and legacy

Editorial project

Housed within the archive, the Mark Twain Project is a major editorial and publishing program of The Bancroft Library. The Project’s resident editors are at work on a comprehensive scholarly edition designed to include everything of significance that Mark Twain wrote.

More than 30 of an estimated 70 volumes are currently available, all published by the University of California Press. (See our list of publications below, with ordering information for all titles in print.) Including texts available only on the Project’s website, marktwainproject.org, these encompass:

  • More than half of the literary manuscripts left unpublished by Mark Twain. 
  • A growing body of his letters: from 1853 through 1875, with annotation and textual apparatus; on marktwainproject.org with annotation and textual apparatus for 1876; and from 1877 through 1880 without full annotation.
  • His notebooks through 1891 (two-thirds of the extant texts).
  • Collections of early fiction and journalism through 1865.
  • Critically established texts of his major works, including Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, Roughing It, and the three-volume Autobiography of Mark Twain.

These meticulously edited texts are also reprinted, with explanatory notes, but without the full scholarly apparatus of the critical editions, in The Mark Twain Library, a popular trade edition that is available in both cloth and paper covers.

Last but not least, the Jumping Frogs series is designed to bring readers and fans some of Mark Twain’s most amusing but neglected short works, such as one of his rare, successful plays, Is He Dead? Each volume has its own distinctive design and illustrations and uses texts carefully established by the Mark Twain Project.

Publications

About

The Mark Twain Project has edited texts of Mark Twain’s work since 1967. Since 2007, most of our new print publications are also published simultaneously to the web at marktwainproject.org. Earlier print editions prepared by the Project will be released there gradually as well.

The University of California Press (Berkeley, Los Angeles, and London) publishes Mark Twain Project volumes in four ongoing series.

Mark Twain Papers
Publishes scholarly editions of previously unpublished notebooks and journals, letters, and literary manuscripts.

Works of Mark Twain
Publishes scholarly editions of previously published literary works.

Mark Twain Library
Offers popularly priced editions, with texts, illustrations, and explanatory notes drawn from Papers and Works volumes. These are intended for classroom use and a general readership.

Jumping Frogs
Has brought previously unpublished or less well-known treasures of Mark Twain’s writing to contemporary readers since 2003.

Orion Clemens’s scrapbook with 1891 travel article by Mark Twain. [Mark Twain Papers]

Image: Orion Clemens’ scrapbook with 1891 travel article by Mark

Print and web

All MTP print and web editions are listed below, newest to oldest, including volumes that are no longer available and selected translations. Corrected editions appear by their most recent print date. ISBN links point to publishers’ pages where possible. You can find our three microfilm editions in the next section. 

Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 3. Ed. Benjamin Griffin and Harriet Elinor Smith. Associate eds.: Victor Fischer, Michael B. Frank, Amanda Gagel, Sharon K. Goetz, Leslie Diane Myrick, and Christopher M. Ohge. Mark Twain Papers. 2015. ISBN 978-0-520-27994-0. At marktwainproject.org, with textual commentaries and other additional material, 2015.

A Family Sketch and Other Private Writings, by Mark Twain, Livy Clemens, and Susy Clemens. Ed. Benjamin Griffin. Jumping Frogs. 2014. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-280731.

Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 2. Ed. Benjamin Griffin and Harriet Elinor Smith. Associate eds.: Victor Fischer, Michael B. Frank, Sharon K. Goetz, and Leslie Myrick. Mark Twain Papers. 2013. ISBN 978-0-520-27278-1. At marktwainproject.org, with textual commentaries and other additional material, 2013.

Editions in translation include:

  • German: Mark Twain: Neue Geheimnisse meiner Autobiographie, trans. Hans-Christian Oeser, Aufbau Verlag, 2014. ISBN 978-3-351-03333-0.

Dear Mark Twain: Letters from His Readers. Ed. R. Kent Rasmussen, with foreword by Ron Powers; texts established by the Mark Twain Project. Jumping Frogs. 2013. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-261341.

Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 1. Readers Edition, with Mark Twain’s text and a brief new introduction. Ed. Harriet Elinor Smith. Associate eds.: Benjamin Griffin, Victor Fischer, Michael B. Frank, Sharon K. Goetz, and Leslie Myrick. 2012. ISBN 978-0-520-27225-5.

Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer among the Indians, and Other Unfinished Stories. Ed. Dahlia Armon, Walter Blair, Paul Baender, William M. Gibson, and Franklin R. Rogers. Mark Twain Library (cloth and paperback). 1989, 2011. ISBN 978-0-520-27150-0. At marktwainproject.org. 2009.

Tom Sawyer Abroad * Tom Sawyer, Detective. Foreword and notes by John C. Gerber; text established by Terry Firkins. Mark Twain Library (cloth and paperback). 1983, 2004, and 2011. ISBN 978-0-520-27151-7.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Revised edition. Ed. Victor Fischer and Lin Salamo, with the assistance of Harriet Elinor Smith and the late Walter Blair. Mark Twain Library (cloth and paperback). 2001 and (with additional material for the 125th anniversary edition) 2010. ISBN 978-0-520-26610-0. [Supersedes the 1985 Mark Twain Library Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (cloth and paperback), ed. Walter Blair and Victor Fischer.]

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Foreword and notes by John C. Gerber; text established by Paul Baender. Mark Twain Library (cloth and paperback). 1983, 2002, and (with additional material for the 135th anniversary edition), 2010. ISBN 978-0-520-26611-7. The 2010 revised edition at marktwainproject.org, forthcoming.

Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 1. Ed. Harriet Elinor Smith. Associate eds.: Benjamin Griffin, Victor Fischer, Michael B. Frank, Sharon K. Goetz, and Leslie Myrick. Mark Twain Papers. 2010. ISBN 978-0-520-26719-0. At marktwainproject.org, with textual commentaries and other additional material, 2010.

Editions in translation include:

  • Chinese: 马克·吐温自传（第1卷), trans. 孟洁冰 with 申生 (MENG Jiebing with SHEN Sheng). Law Press China, 2012. ISBN 978-7511834720.
  • French: L’Autobiographie de Mark Twain, trans. Bernard Hoepffner. Éditions Tristram, 2012. ISBN 978-2-907681-96-4.
  • German: Mark Twain: Meine Geheime Autobiographie, trans. Hans-Christian Oeser. Aufbau Verlag, 2012. ISBN 978-3-351-03513-6.
  • Italian: Autobiografia di Mark Twain, trans. Salvatore Proietti. Donzelli Editore, 2014. ISBN 978-8-860369864.
  • Japanese: マーク・トウェイン完全なる自伝, Vol. 1, trans. 和栗了, 市川博彬, 永原誠, 山本祐子, and 浜本隆三 (WAGURI Ryō, ICHIKAWA Hiroyoshi, NAGAHARA Makoto, YAMAMOTO Yūko, HAMAMOTO Ryūzō). Kashiwashobo Press, 2013. ISBN 978-4-7601-4250-7.
  • Editions in preparation include Portuguese (Editora Novo Século) and Russian (AST Publishers).

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. Ed. Bernard L. Stein. Mark Twain Library (cloth and paperback). 1984, 2002, and 2010. ISBN 978-0-520-26816-6.

Letters Newly Published, Part 1. Ed. Victor Fischer, Michael B. Frank, Sharon K. Goetz, and Harriet Elinor Smith. At marktwainproject.org. 2010.

No. 44, The Mysterious Stranger. Foreword and notes by John S. Tuckey; text established by William M. Gibson and the staff of the Mark Twain Project. Mark Twain Library (cloth and paperback). 1982, 2004, and 2010. ISBN 978-0-520-27000-8.

The Prince and the Pauper. Foreword and notes by Victor Fischer and Michael B. Frank; text established by Victor Fischer. Mark Twain Library (cloth and paperback). 1983, 2002, and 2010. ISBN 978-0-520-27001-5.

Roughing It. Revised edition. Ed. Harriet Elinor Smith, Edgar Marquess Branch, Lin Salamo, and Robert Pack Browning. Mark Twain Library. 1996, 2002, and 2010. ISBN 978-0-520-26817-3. [Supersedes the 1973 Works of Mark Twain Roughing It (paperback) with introduction and explanatory notes by Franklin R. Rogers; text established by Paul Baender.]

Mark Twain’s Book of Animals. Ed. with introduction, afterword, and notes by Shelley Fisher Fishkin; texts established by the Mark Twain Project. Jumping Frogs. 2009. Cloth ISBN 978-0-520-24855-7; paperback ISBN 978-0-520-27152-4.

Who Is Mark Twain? Ed. the Mark Twain Project. New York: HarperStudio, 2009. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-06-173500-4; paperback ISBN 978-0-06-173501-1. Out of print.

Mark Twain Project Online. Ed. the Mark Twain Project.https://www.marktwainproject.org/. Launched 1 November 2007.

Mark Twain’s Letters, 1876–1880. Ed. Victor Fischer, Michael B. Frank, and Harriet Elinor Smith, with Sharon K. Goetz, Benjamin Griffin, and Leslie Myrick. At marktwainproject.org. 2007.

The Devil’s Race-Track: Mark Twain’s Great Dark Writings. The Best from “Which Was the Dream?” and “Fables of Man.” Ed. John S. Tuckey. Reprints texts from the Mark Twain Papers (cloth and paperback). 1981 and 2005. Paperback ISBN 978-0-520-23893-0.

The Mysterious Stranger Manuscripts. Ed. William M. Gibson. Mark Twain Papers (paperback). 1969 and 2005. Paperback ISBN 978-0-520-24695-9.

Mark Twain’s Helpful Hints for Good Living: A Handbook for the Damned Human Race. Ed. Lin Salamo, Victor Fischer, and Michael B. Frank. Jumping Frogs. 2004. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-24245-6.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Revised edition. Ed. Victor Fischer and Lin Salamo, with the late Walter Blair. Works of Mark Twain. 2003. At marktwainproject.org. 2009. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-23771-1. [Supersedes the 1988 Works of Mark Twain Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, out of print, ed. Walter Blair and Victor Fischer, with the assistance of Dahlia Armon and Harriet Elinor Smith.]

Is He Dead? A Comedy in Three Acts. Ed. with foreword, afterword, and notes by Shelley Fisher Fishkin; text established by the Mark Twain Project. Jumping Frogs. 2003. Cloth ISBN 0-520-23979-2, out of print; paperback ISBN 978-0-520-24833-5.

Mark Twain’s Letters: 1876–1880. An Electronic Edition. Letter texts only (PDF format). Ed. the Mark Twain Project. Published for the University of California Press by the Mark Twain Project of The Bancroft Library. 2003.

Mark Twain’s Letters, Volume 6: 1874–1875. Ed. Michael B. Frank and Harriet Elinor Smith. Mark Twain Papers. 2002. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-23772-8. At marktwainproject.org. 2007.

Mark Twain at Large: His Travels Here and Abroad. An Exhibition from the Mark Twain Papers of The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley. 25 September to 11 December 1998. Ed. Lin Salamo, Harriet Elinor Smith, and Robert Pack Browning. Design by Mary Scott. Berkeley: The Bancroft Library, Berkeley Printing Services, 1998. Bancroft web, 2001.

Mark Twain’s Letters, Volume 5: 1872–1873. Ed. Lin Salamo and Harriet Elinor Smith. Mark Twain Papers. 1997. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-20822-3. At marktwainproject.org. 2007.

Mark Twain’s Letters, Volume 4: 1870–1871. Ed. Victor Fischer, Michael B. Frank, and Lin Salamo. Mark Twain Papers. 1995. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-20360-0. At marktwainproject.org. 2007.

Roughing It. Revised edition. Ed. Harriet Elinor Smith, Edgar Marquess Branch, Lin Salamo, and Robert Pack Browning. Works of Mark Twain. 1993. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-08498-8. [Supersedes the 1972 Works of Mark Twain Roughing It with introduction and explanatory notes by Franklin R. Rogers; text established and textual notes by Paul Baender.] At marktwainproject.org. 2009.

Mark Twain’s Letters, Volume 3: 1869. Ed. Victor Fischer, Michael B. Frank, and Dahlia Armon. Mark Twain Papers. 1992. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-03670-3. At marktwainproject.org. 2007.

Union Catalog of Letters to Clemens. Ed. Paul Machlis, with the assistance of Deborah Ann Turner. University of California Publications: Catalog and Bibliographies, Volume 8. Printed text and microfiche supplement. 1992. Hardcover ISBN 0-520-09743-2. Out of print.

Mark Twain’s Letters, Volume 2: 1867–1868. Ed. Harriet Elinor Smith, Richard Bucci, and Lin Salamo. Mark Twain Papers. 1990. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-03669-7. At marktwainproject.org. 2007.

Mark Twain’s Letters, Volume 1: 1853–1866. Ed. Edgar Marquess Branch, Michael B. Frank, Kenneth M. Sanderson, Harriet Elinor Smith, Lin Salamo, and Richard Bucci. Mark Twain Papers. 1988. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-03668-0. At marktwainproject.org. 2007.

Union Catalog of Clemens Letters. Ed. Paul Machlis. University of California Publications: Catalog and Bibliographies, Volume 1. Printed text and microfiche supplement. 1986. Hardcover ISBN 0-520-09688-6. Out of print.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Illustrated by Barry Moser; foreword by Henry Nash Smith; note on the text by Robert H. Hirst. Pennyroyal Press/California Edition. 1985. ISBN 0-520-05338-9. Out of print.

Early Tales & Sketches, Volume 2 (1864–1865). Ed. Edgar Marquess Branch and Robert H. Hirst, with the assistance of Harriet Elinor Smith. Works of Mark Twain. 1981. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-04382-4.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; Tom Sawyer Abroad; Tom Sawyer, Detective. Ed. John C. Gerber, Paul Baender, and Terry Firkins. Works of Mark Twain. 1980. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-03353-5.

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. Ed. Bernard L. Stein; intro. Henry Nash Smith. Works of Mark Twain. 1979. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-03621-5.

Early Tales & Sketches, Volume 1 (1851–1864). Ed. Edgar Marquess Branch and Robert H. Hirst, with the assistance of Harriet Elinor Smith. Works of Mark Twain. 1979. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-03186-9.

Mark Twain’s Notebooks & Journals, Volume III (1883–1891). Ed. Robert Pack Browning, Michael B. Frank, and Lin Salamo; General Editor, Frederick Anderson. Mark Twain Papers. 1979. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-03383-2.

The Prince and the Pauper. Ed. Victor Fischer and Lin Salamo, with the assistance of Mary Jane Jones. Works of Mark Twain. 1979. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-03622-2.

Mark Twain’s Notebooks & Journals, Volume II (1877–1883). Ed. Frederick Anderson, Lin Salamo, and Bernard L. Stein. Mark Twain Papers. 1975. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-02542-4.

Mark Twain’s Notebooks & Journals, Volume I (1855–1873). Ed. Frederick Anderson, Michael B. Frank, and Kenneth M. Sanderson. Mark Twain Papers. 1975. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-02326-0.

What Is Man? and Other Philosophical Writings. Ed. Paul Baender. Works of Mark Twain. 1973. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-01621-7.

Mark Twain’s Fables of Man. Ed. John S. Tuckey, Kenneth M. Sanderson, and Bernard L. Stein. Mark Twain Papers. 1972. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-02039-9.

Mark Twain’s Hannibal, Huck & Tom. Ed. Walter Blair. Mark Twain Papers. 1969. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-01501-2.

Mark Twain’s Letters to His Publishers, 1867–1894. Ed. Hamlin L. Hill. Mark Twain Papers. 1967. OCLC 272071.

Mark Twain’s Satires & Burlesques. Ed. Franklin R. Rogers. Mark Twain Papers. 1967. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-01081-9.

Mark Twain’s Which Was the Dream? and Other Symbolic Writings of the Later Years. Ed. John S. Tuckey. Mark Twain Papers. 1967. Hardcover ISBN 978-0-520-01285-1.

Microfilm editions

Microfilm Edition of Mark Twain’s Manuscript Letters Now in the Mark Twain Papers, The Bancroft Library University of California, Berkeley. The texts reproduced here include holograph manuscripts as well as dictated manuscripts, in the hand of an amanuensis, for both published and heretofore unpublished letters by Mark Twain or members of his immediate family. Originals of the letters included here are held by the Mark Twain Papers. ISBN: 1-893663-10-8

Microfilm Edition of Mark Twain’s Literary Manuscripts Available in the Mark Twain Papers, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley. The texts reproduced here include holograph manuscripts as well as dictated manuscripts, in the hand of an amanuensis, for both published and heretofore unpublished manuscripts by Mark Twain or members of his immediate family. ISBN: 1-893663-11-6

Microfilm Edition of Mark Twain’s Previously Unpublished Letters. The texts published here include transcriptions of holograph manuscripts as well as dictated manuscripts, in the hand of an amanuensis, for heretofore unpublished letters by Mark Twain. ISBN: 1-893663-12-4

The set of three editions was published in 2001 and may be purchased for $50,000. See our guide to the microfilm editions (PDF) for contents. To order, contact the Mark Twain Project.