Chapters 51-52 Summary

As if in a hurry to get this painful episode over with, Twain hurries on to finish the story of the failure of "Webster and Company."

Under the new contract, Webster had the power to decide what would be published. Yet most people knew it was Twain's company and would offer books through him. Webster was offended when this happened and would refuse these books, no matter how good they were. On the other hand, if anyone offered Webster a book directly, he would publish it, no matter how bad it was. Webster even stalled on publishing Twain's book, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, for as long as he could.

Webster suffered from what today would be called migraine headaches, and he became addicted to a new German painkiller. Twain say that in his condition, Webster was not responsible...