Culturebox: Mark Twain's Amazing Embargo

Now playing: Slate V, a video-only site from the world's leading online magazine. Visit Slate V at www.slatev.com.
culturebox Mark Twain's Amazing Embargo The brilliant brand management behind the handling of his autobiography. By Craig Fehrman Posted Thursday, Oct. 28, 2010, at 10:12 AM ET In 1906, Mark Twain wrote to his friend and frequent correspondent, William Dean Howells, updating him on the progress of his autobiography: To-morrow I mean to dictate a chapter which will get my heirs & assigns burned alive if they venture to print it this side of A.D. 2006--which I judge they won't. There'll be lots of such chapters if I live 3 or 4 years longer. The edition of A.D. 2006 will make a stir when it comes out. I shall be hovering around taking notice, along with other dead pals. You are invited. To continue reading, click here. Craig Fehrman, a graduate student in English at Yale, is writing a book on presidents and their books. Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum What did you think of this article? POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES Also In Slate How Russ Feingold Is Scaring Wisconsinites Into Voting for Him Students Who Tried To Sit Out the Recession in Law School Now Have J.D.s, Debt, and No Prospects Can Twitter Predict Stock Market Swings?	Advertisement
Manage your newsletters on Slate Unsubscribe | Newsletter Center | Advertising Information Please do not reply to this message since this is an unmonitored e-mail address. If you have questions about newsletters, please go here.
Ideas on how to make something better? Send an e-mail to newsletters@slate.com. Copyright 2010 Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive Co. LLC | Privacy Policy Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive | c/o E-mail Customer Care | 1150 15th Street NW | Washington, D.C. 20071