Chapters 30-31 Summary

This chapter describes how Twain began his career as an author of books. Writer and editor Charles Webb suggested to Twain that he publish a volume of sketches. Twain was excited and flattered by the idea.

Webb scheduled an appointment for Twain with a publisher named Carlton, who turned him down rudely. Twenty-one years later, Twain ran into Carlton, who apologized by introducing himself as "the prize ass of the nineteenth century." When Carlton refused the book, Webb published it himself.

When Twain sailed abroad, the American Publishing Company invited him to write a book about that trip. While writing that book, The Innocents Abroad, Twain roomed with a friend, and the two supported themselves on $24 per week earned from their own little syndication scheme.

While Elisha Bliss of the American Publishing Company was supposed to be publishing The Innocents Abroad...