Author(s): Twain, Mark Introduction by D

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At the height of his fame, Mark Twain, the rambunctious writer and humorist from Missouri, was facing financial ruin from one of his many business ventures. Broke but much loved he went on a money-raising lecture tour around the equator, making a stop in Australia. "The Wayward Tourist" republishes Mark Twain's Australian travel writing in which he recounts his impressions of Sydney ("the creation of Satan") and his view of Australian history ("it reads like the most beautiful lies"), with much lamenting along the way about his carbuncle. In his introduction, Don Watson describes this wayward tourist who brought his American swagger, love of language and wicked talent for observation to Australia. This significant encounter between one of America's great writers is also wonderful entertainment.