How Long to Read Mark Twain, Culture and Gender

How Long Does it Take to Read Mark Twain, Culture and Gender?

It takes the average reader 4 hours and 14 minutes to read Mark Twain, Culture and Gender by J. D. Stahl

Assuming a reading speed of 250 words per minute. Learn more

Description

Often regarded as the quintessential American author, Mark Twain in fact mined his knowledge and experience of Europe as assiduously as he did his adventures on the Mississippi and in the American West. In this challenging and original study, J. D. Stall looks closely at various Twain works with European settings and traces the manner in which the great writer redefined European notions of class into American concepts of gender, identity, and society. Stahl not only examines such famous writings as The Innocents Abroad, The Prince and the Pauper, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, and the "Mysterious Stranger" manuscripts but also treats a number of neglected works, including 1601, "A Memorable Midnight Experience", and Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc. In these writings, Stahl shows, Twain utilized the terms and symbols of European society and history to express his deepest concerns involving father–son relationships, the legitimation of parentage, female political and sexual power, the victimization of "good" women, and, ultimately, the desire to bridge or even destroy the barriers between the sexes. The "exoticism" of foreign culture—with its kings and queens, priests, and aristocrats—furnished Twain with some especially potent images of power, authority, and tradition. These images, Stahl argues, were "plastic material in Mark Twain's hands", enabling the writer to explore the uncertainties and ambiguities of gender in America: what it meant to be a man in Victorian America; what Twain thought it meant to be a woman; how men and women did, could, and should relate to each other. Stahl's approach yields a wealth of fresh insights into Twain's work. In discussing The Innocents Abroad, for example, he analyzes the emergence of the "Mark Twain" persona as part of a quest for cultural authority that often took the form of sexual role-playing. He also demonstrates that The Prince and the Pauper, even more strikingly than Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, embodies the writer's central myth of orphaned sons searching for surrogate fathers. His reading of A Connecticut Yankee is a tour de force, uncovering the psychological contradictions in Twain's political aspirations toward democratic equality. Stahl's book is an important contribution to literary scholarship, informed by psychology, gender study, cultural theory, and traditional Twain criticism. It confirms Mark Twain's debt to European culture even as it illuminates his re-envisioning of that culture in his own uniquely American way.

How long is Mark Twain, Culture and Gender?

Mark Twain, Culture and Gender by J. D. Stahl is 252 pages long, and a total of 63,504 words.

This makes it 85% the length of the average book. It also has 78% more words than the average book.

How Long Does it Take to Read Mark Twain, Culture and Gender Aloud?

The average oral reading speed is 183 words per minute. This means it takes 5 hours and 47 minutes to read Mark Twain, Culture and Gender aloud.

What Reading Level is Mark Twain, Culture and Gender?

Mark Twain, Culture and Gender is suitable for students ages 12 and up.

Note that there may be other factors that effect this rating besides length that are not factored in on this page. This may include things like complex language or sensitive topics not suitable for students of certain ages.

When deciding what to show young students always use your best judgement and consult a professional.

Where Can I Buy Mark Twain, Culture and Gender?

Mark Twain, Culture and Gender by J. D. Stahl is sold by several retailers and bookshops. However, Read Time works with Amazon to provide an easier way to purchase books.

To buy Mark Twain, Culture and Gender by J. D. Stahl on Amazon click the button below.