Twain's the lead here, even if it's mostly early days for him in this slice of time. Early on, it becomes clear that Mark Twain, Bret Harte, Charles Warren Stoddard and Ina Coolbrith were their own brand of rock stars, making use of new technology to splash out their artistic visions and just as importantly, amp up their fame and make some money. Apparently, we're unlikely to run out of barriers to break down no matter how decisive any given victory feels.Įven the three stages of change that structure the book ring close to home "Pioneers," "Bonanza and Bust," and "Exile." As you read, skip "Oh, Susanna" for your soundtrack and go straight to the Rolling Stones. He finds an engaging through-line full of fun stories about a culture in the midst of tumultuous and familiar-feeling change.
Tarnoff's narrative of a nascent cultural revolution is chock-a-block with verve and reverb. Happily, the early 21st century appears to have been an ideal moment for Ben Tarnoff to look at 'The Bohemians: Mark Twain and the San Francisco Writers Who Reinvented American Literature.' Written histories are themselves a piece of history, as much a document of their own time as those they examine. The Bohemians: Mark Twain and the San Francisco Writers Who Reinvented American Literature Ben Tarnoff The Bohemians Reviewed by Rick Kleffel
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