ReadMOre in 2010 with Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site is participating in the popular statewide reading program supported by the Missouri Humanities Council. In its ninth year, ReadMOre encourages Missourians to read a single, highly acclaimed and thought-provoking book. For more information about the program visit the ReadMOre website.
For the 2010 ReadMOre program four short stories have been selected by Mark Twain: "The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County"; "The £1,000,000 Bank-Note"; "The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg", and "The Mysterious Stranger". These stories span Twain’s career as a humorist and author and are available in numerous editions, including a Dover Thrift paperback edition. The Mysterious Stranger and Other Stories as well as other great Mark Twain classics are available in the Museum Shop at Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site as well as in our online store.
Mark Twain and Ulysses S. Grant met during Grant’s presidency, and it was during a reunion of Civil War veterans in the 1870s that their friendship developed. In 1884, Twain asked Grant to let him publish the memoirs Grant was writing, knowing they would be a tremendous success. Twain also wanted Grant to receive a large share of the profits since Grant had suffered a financial disaster and had also been diagnosed with throat cancer. Rumors that Twain co-authored or ghost-wrote the memoirs continue to circulate today, but they are entirely false—Twain took no part in the writing, only lending encouragement to Grant as he struggled through intense pain to finish his work.
Published posthumously, The Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant were the biggest best seller up to that time and provided Julia Grant with a substantial income after her husband’s death on July 23, 1885. Numerous editions of the Memoirs are in still in print today, including hardcover and paperback versions available for sale in the Grant National Historic Site Museum Shop and online.
On Sunday, February 28, at 1:00 p.m., Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site will hold a book discussion of the four Twain ReadMOre selections, following guidelines suggested by the program. There is no charge to participate in the discussion, but space is limited so reservations are encouraged. You can call the Visitor Center at 314.842.3298 to make your reservation. Before the 28th, we hope you visit Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site and purchase your copy of the book to read for the discussion.
The image of The Mysterious Stranger and Other Stories is shown in our Enewsletter with permission from Dover Publications.
