The essential companion book to the PBS series—the first fully illustrated biography of one of the central figures of our literature—published by Alfred A. Knopf from the authors of The Civil War, Baseball, Lewis and Clark, and Jazz.

This book pulls together material from a variety of published and unpublished sources and includes 275 illustrations and photographs from throughout Twain’s life. With essays by Russell Banks, Jocelyn Chadwick, Ron Powers, and John Boyer, as well as an interview with actor and frequent Twain portrayer Hal Holbrook, this book provides a full and rich portrayal of the first figure of American letters.

Alfred A. Knopf Publishers
ISBN: 0-375-40561-5

Own the Definitive Story of America's Most Beloved Author on Videocassette for $24.98 or on DVD for $29.98!

Nearly three years in the making and drawing from 63 hours of material, thousands of archival photographs and nearly 20 interviews with top writers and scholars, Mark Twain is the story of Twain’s extraordinary life-full of rollicking adventure, stupendous success and crushing defeat, hilarious comedy and almost unbearable tragedy. Told primarily through the words of Twain himself, viewers of all ages will be personally introduced to this compelling yet contradictory genius, who said with some justification, “I am not an American, I am the American.”

• The making of Mark Twain with Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan
• Interview outtakes with Hal Holbrook, Arthur Miller, Russell Banks and others
• Mark Twain quotes and photographs
• Ken Burns: Making History—A behind-the-scenes look at how Ken Burns makes his films
• A Conversation with Ken Burns-An intimate look into what inspires filmmaker Ken Burns

MARK TWAIN IS AMERICA’S STORYTELLER—
THIS IS THE SOUNDTRACK TO HIS STORIES

Combining songs from Twain’s lifetime and more recent compositions that help conjure up images of Twain’s long and eventful life, the Mark Twain soundtrack CD features traditional, 100% acoustic, American folk music. Performed by some of the most renowned and respected musicians in the country, the 29-song CD is an American keepsake. “This is much more than mere background music for the film,” says Ken Burns, it's the project’s “emotional metronome.”

• Performances by Bobby Horton and Jacqueline Schwab, award-winning musicians who have contributed to every Ken Burns project since The Civil War
• Entertaining and inspiring Mark Twain monologues read by actor Kevin Conway
• Deluxe 20-page booklet with amazing turn-of-the-century photographs.
• Illuminating essays by Ken Burns and co-producer Dayton Duncan