Twain and Literary Perfidy: Plagiarism, Piracy and Imposture of (and by) Samuel Clemens

Mark Twain's career was characterized by a complicated relationship with literary fraud. While he argued that all writing was a form of rewriting, his perspective fueled controversy and left him vulnerable to critics, rivals, and publishers who wanted to exploit his fame. From accusations of plagiarism to the piracy of his works abroad, questions of authorship and originality accompanied his craft throughout his career.

This book examines Mark Twain's career in depth, tracing acts of plagi...