Life on the Mississippi
Mark Twain's account of the river that made him. The first half, written in the 1870s, tells how a boy from Hannibal became a cub pilot under Horace Bixby in the 1850s, learning to read the water, memorize twelve hundred miles of changing shoreline and survive the vanity of the pilots' fraternity. The second half, written after a return trip in 1882, describes what the war and the railroads had done to the river towns, with digressions on gamblers, cemeteries, Southern architecture and the New Orleans Mardi Gras. Published in 1883, the book is uneven by design, part memoir, part travelogue, part anthology of tall tales. It is also the first book submitted to a publisher as a typewritten manuscript, or so Twain claimed. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, with the first chapter free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Life on the Mississippi
Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Life on the Mississippi online?
Yes. Life on the Mississippi opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Life on the Mississippi free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Life on the Mississippi is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Life on the Mississippi in the public domain?
Yes. Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Life on the Mississippi?
About 9 h 33 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Life on the Mississippi?
Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain is filed under "History" in the Vinteuil library.
