Although Mark Twain's outbursts and writings often created a sensation because of Twain's colorful language and impetuous style, Wood's treatment of Twain's life is generally inoffensive.

Wood neglects to develop the significant female characters in the story, and he does not explore in any depth Twain's attitudes about social issues. But in portaying Twain's relationships with the people he loved, Wood's biography reveals a caring, if bitter, individual.