The Bohemians: Mark Twain and the San Francisco Writers Who Reinvented American Literature - Hardcover
The unforgettable story of the birth of modern America and the western writers who gave voice to its emerging identity
The Bohemians begins in 1860s San Francisco. The Gold Rush has ended; the Civil War threatens to tear apart the country. Far from the front lines, the city at the western edge roars. A global seaport, home to immigrants from five continents, San Francisco has become a complex urban society virtually overnight. The bards of the moment are the Bohemians: a young Mark Twain, fleeing the draft and seeking adventure; literary golden boy Bret Harte; struggling gay poet Charles Warren Stoddard; and beautiful, haunted Ina Coolbrith, poet and protectorate of the group. Ben Tarnoff’s elegant, atmospheric history reveals how these four pioneering western writers would together create a new American literature, unfettered by the heavy European influence that dominated the East.
Twain arrives by stagecoach in San Francisco in 1863 and is fast drunk on champagne, oysters, and the city’s intoxicating energy. He finds that the war has only made California richer: the economy booms, newspapers and magazines thrive, and the dream of transcontinental train travel promises to soon become a reality. Twain and the Bohemians find inspiration in their surroundings: the dark ironies of frontier humor, the extravagant tales told around the campfires, and the youthful irreverence of the new world being formed in the west. The star of the moment is Bret Harte, a rising figure on the national scene and mentor to both Stoddard and Coolbrith. Young and ambitious, Twain and Harte form the Bohemian core. But as Harte’s star ascends?drawing attention from eastern taste makers such as the Atlantic Monthly?Twain flounders, questioning whether he should be a writer at all.
The Bohemian moment would continue in Boston, New York, and London, and would achieve immortality in the writings of Mark Twain. San Francisco gave him his education as a writer and helped inspire the astonishing innovations that radically reimagined American literature. At once an intimate portrait of an eclectic, unforgettable group of writers and a history of a cultural revolution in America, The Bohemians reveals how a brief moment on the western frontier changed our country forever.
The Bohemians begins in 1860s San Francisco. The Gold Rush has ended; the Civil War threatens to tear apart the country. Far from the front lines, the city at the western edge roars. A global seaport, home to immigrants from five continents, San Francisco has become a complex urban society virtually overnight. The bards of the moment are the Bohemians: a young Mark Twain, fleeing the draft and seeking adventure; literary golden boy Bret Harte; struggling gay poet Charles Warren Stoddard; and beautiful, haunted Ina Coolbrith, poet and protectorate of the group. Ben Tarnoff’s elegant, atmospheric history reveals how these four pioneering western writers would together create a new American literature, unfettered by the heavy European influence that dominated the East.
Twain arrives by stagecoach in San Francisco in 1863 and is fast drunk on champagne, oysters, and the city’s intoxicating energy. He finds that the war has only made California richer: the economy booms, newspapers and magazines thrive, and the dream of transcontinental train travel promises to soon become a reality. Twain and the Bohemians find inspiration in their surroundings: the dark ironies of frontier humor, the extravagant tales told around the campfires, and the youthful irreverence of the new world being formed in the west. The star of the moment is Bret Harte, a rising figure on the national scene and mentor to both Stoddard and Coolbrith. Young and ambitious, Twain and Harte form the Bohemian core. But as Harte’s star ascends?drawing attention from eastern taste makers such as the Atlantic Monthly?Twain flounders, questioning whether he should be a writer at all.
The Bohemian moment would continue in Boston, New York, and London, and would achieve immortality in the writings of Mark Twain. San Francisco gave him his education as a writer and helped inspire the astonishing innovations that radically reimagined American literature. At once an intimate portrait of an eclectic, unforgettable group of writers and a history of a cultural revolution in America, The Bohemians reveals how a brief moment on the western frontier changed our country forever.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Product Description:
Physical description; 322 pages: illustrations; 25 cm. Notes; Includes bibliographical references (pages [261]-310) and index. Subjects; Twain, Mark 1835-1910. Harte, Bret 1836-1902. Stoddard, Charles Warren 1843-1909. Coolbrith, Ina D. (Ina Donna) 1841-1928. American literature - California - San Francisco - History and criticism. Authors, American - Homes and haunts - California - San Francisco.
Review:
"The New Yorker"
"Tarnoff's book sings with the humor and expansiveness of his subjects' prose, capturing the intoxicating atmosphere of possibility that defined, for a time, America's frontier."
"San Francisco Chronicle"
"Tarnoff breathes fresh life into his narrative with vivid details from the archives... giving us a rich portrait of a lost world overflowing with new wealth and new talent... [A] stylish and fast-paced literary history."
"Chicago Tribune"
"Engrossing... By skillfully tracking the friendships and fortunes of this unusual quartet, Tarnoff narrates the awakening of a powerful new sensibility in American literature.... Tarnoff powerfully evokes the western landscapes, local cultures and youthful friendships that helped shape Twain. He has a talent for selecting details that animate the past."
"Wall Street Journal"
"Rich hauls of historical research, deeply excavated but lightly borne.... Mr. Tarnoff's ultimate thesis is a strong one, strongly expressed: that together these writers 'helped pry American literature away from its provincial origins in New England and push it into a broader current'."
"Boston Globe"
"Delightful.... Adeptly wrapping a wonderful story around these young writers, Tarnoff glides smoothly along, never dwelling too long and never claiming too much. He stacks fifty pages of endnotes at the back of the book but such archival sweat doesn't show in the prose."
"Washington Post"
"Tarnoff is a good storyteller and character-portraitist, with a deep knowledge of the West Coat."
"Minneapolis Star Tribune"
"Meticulously researched and exhilarating... Twain may be the main draw of Tarnoff's book, but Tarnoff's writing about a few of Twain's contemporaries -- Bret Harte, Charles Warren Stoddard, Ina Coolbrith -- is just as engaging."
"Kansas City Star"
"Tarnoff successfully contributes to the compendium [of Twain scholarship] with a fresh take on Twain's San Francisco circle, which was akin to the Algonquin Roundtable in Manhattan or 'Lost Generation' of writers in Paris."
"The Daily Beast"
"Lively... Tarnoff draws a vivid contrast between sardonic, sophisticated, and sartorially dapper [Bret] Harte, San Francisco's literary star, and the unkempt, uncouth Mark Twain who rolled into town in 1863, a scuffling newspaperman looking to move on and up from provincial Virginia City, Nevada."
"The New Yorker"'s Page-Turner blog
"Tarnoff provides a fascinating snapshot of the era, when the city's prosperity and unique international character (he points out that in 1860 almost two-thirds of the city's adult males were foreign-born) brought about a thrilling, if chaotic, admixture of idealism and fun."
"The Oregonian"
"Deftly written, wholly absorbing."
"Publishers Weekly"
"Tarnoff's glimmering prose lends grandeur to this account of four writers (Mark Twain, Bret Harte, Charles Warren Stoddard, and Ina Coolbrith) who built 'an extraordinary literary scene' in the frontier boom town of 1860s San Francisco....The lively historical detail and loving tone of the interwoven biographies make a highly readable story of this formative time in American letters, starring San Francisco as the city that lifted 'Twain to literary greatness'."
"Booklist"
"Tarnoff energetically portrays this irresistible quartet within a vital historical setting, tracking the controversies they sparked and the struggles they endured, bringing forward an underappreciated facet of American literature. We see Twain in a revealing new light, but most affecting are Tarnoff's insights into Harte's 'downward spiral, ' Stoddard's faltering, and persevering Coolbrith's triumph as California's first poet laureate."
"The New Yorker"
Tarnoff s book sings with the humor and expansiveness of his subjects prose, capturing the intoxicating atmosphere of possibility that defined, for a time, America s frontier.
"San Francisco Chronicle"
Tarnoff breathes fresh life into his narrative with vivid details from the archives giving us a rich portrait of a lost world overflowing with new wealth and new talent... [A] stylish and fast-paced literary history.
"Chicago Tribune"
Engrossing... By skillfully tracking the friendships and fortunes of this unusual quartet, Tarnoff narrates the awakening of a powerful new sensibility in American literature.... Tarnoff powerfully evokes the western landscapes, local cultures and youthful friendships that helped shape Twain. He has a talent for selecting details that animate the past.
"Wall Street Journal"
Rich hauls of historical research, deeply excavated but lightly borne.... Mr. Tarnoff s ultimate thesis is a strong one, strongly expressed: that together these writers helped pry American literature away from its provincial origins in New England and push it into a broader current .
"Boston Globe"
Delightful.... Adeptly wrapping a wonderful story around these young writers, Tarnoff glides smoothly along, never dwelling too long and never claiming too much. He stacks fifty pages of endnotes at the back of the book but such archival sweat doesn t show in the prose.
"Washington Post"
Tarnoff is a good storyteller and character-portraitist, with a deep knowledge of the West Coat.
"Minneapolis Star Tribune"
Meticulously researched and exhilarating Twain may be the main draw of Tarnoff s book, but Tarnoff s writing about a few of Twain s contemporaries Bret Harte, Charles Warren Stoddard, Ina Coolbrith is just as engaging.
"Kansas City Star"
Tarnoff successfully contributes to the compendium [of Twain scholarship] with a fresh take on Twain s San Francisco circle, which was akin to the Algonquin Roundtable in Manhattan or Lost Generation of writers in Paris.
"The Daily Beast"
Lively Tarnoff draws a vivid contrast between sardonic, sophisticated, and sartorially dapper [Bret] Harte, San Francisco s literary star, and the unkempt, uncouth Mark Twain who rolled into town in 1863, a scuffling newspaperman looking to move on and up from provincial Virginia City, Nevada.
"The New Yorker"'s Page-Turner blog
Tarnoff provides a fascinating snapshot of the era, when the city s prosperity and unique international character (he points out that in 1860 almost two-thirds of the city s adult males were foreign-born) brought about a thrilling, if chaotic, admixture of idealism and fun.
"The Oregonian"
Deftly written, wholly absorbing.
"Publishers Weekly"
Tarnoff s glimmering prose lends grandeur to this account of four writers (Mark Twain, Bret Harte, Charles Warren Stoddard, and Ina Coolbrith) who built an extraordinary literary scene in the frontier boom town of 1860s San Francisco .The lively historical detail and loving tone of the interwoven biographies make a highly readable story of this formative time in American letters, starring San Francisco as the city that lifted Twain to literary greatness .
"Booklist"
Tarnoff energetically portrays this irresistible quartet within a vital historical setting, tracking the controversies they sparked and the struggles they endured, bringing forward an underappreciated facet of American literature. We see Twain in a revealing new light, but most affecting are Tarnoff s insights into Harte s downward spiral, Stoddard s faltering, and persevering Coolbrith s triumph as California s first poet laureate. "
The New Yorker
Tarnoff s book sings with the humor and expansiveness of his subjects prose, capturing the intoxicating atmosphere of possibility that defined, for a time, America s frontier.
San Francisco Chronicle
Tarnoff breathes fresh life into his narrative with vivid details from the archives giving us a rich portrait of a lost world overflowing with new wealth and new talent... [A] stylish and fast-paced literary history.
Chicago Tribune
Engrossing... By skillfully tracking the friendships and fortunes of this unusual quartet, Tarnoff narrates the awakening of a powerful new sensibility in American literature.... Tarnoff powerfully evokes the western landscapes, local cultures and youthful friendships that helped shape Twain. He has a talent for selecting details that animate the past.
Wall Street Journal
Rich hauls of historical research, deeply excavated but lightly borne.... Mr. Tarnoff s ultimate thesis is a strong one, strongly expressed: that together these writers helped pry American literature away from its provincial origins in New England and push it into a broader current .
Boston Globe
Delightful.... Adeptly wrapping a wonderful story around these young writers, Tarnoff glides smoothly along, never dwelling too long and never claiming too much. He stacks fifty pages of endnotes at the back of the book but such archival sweat doesn t show in the prose.
Washington Post
Tarnoff is a good storyteller and character-portraitist, with a deep knowledge of the West Coat.
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Meticulously researched and exhilarating Twain may be the main draw of Tarnoff s book, but Tarnoff s writing about a few of Twain s contemporaries Bret Harte, Charles Warren Stoddard, Ina Coolbrith is just as engaging.
Kansas City Star
Tarnoff successfully contributes to the compendium [of Twain scholarship] with a fresh take on Twain s San Francisco circle, which was akin to the Algonquin Roundtable in Manhattan or Lost Generation of writers in Paris.
The Daily Beast
Lively Tarnoff draws a vivid contrast between sardonic, sophisticated, and sartorially dapper [Bret] Harte, San Francisco s literary star, and the unkempt, uncouth Mark Twain who rolled into town in 1863, a scuffling newspaperman looking to move on and up from provincial Virginia City, Nevada.
The New Yorker's Page-Turner blog
Tarnoff provides a fascinating snapshot of the era, when the city s prosperity and unique international character (he points out that in 1860 almost two-thirds of the city s adult males were foreign-born) brought about a thrilling, if chaotic, admixture of idealism and fun.
The Oregonian
Deftly written, wholly absorbing.
Publishers Weekly
Tarnoff s glimmering prose lends grandeur to this account of four writers (Mark Twain, Bret Harte, Charles Warren Stoddard, and Ina Coolbrith) who built an extraordinary literary scene in the frontier boom town of 1860s San Francisco .The lively historical detail and loving tone of the interwoven biographies make a highly readable story of this formative time in American letters, starring San Francisco as the city that lifted Twain to literary greatness .
Booklist
Tarnoff energetically portrays this irresistible quartet within a vital historical setting, tracking the controversies they sparked and the struggles they endured, bringing forward an underappreciated facet of American literature. We see Twain in a revealing new light, but most affecting are Tarnoff s insights into Harte s downward spiral, Stoddard s faltering, and persevering Coolbrith s triumph as California s first poet laureate. "
The New Yorker
"Tarnoff's book sings with the humor and expansiveness of his subjects' prose, capturing the intoxicating atmosphere of possibility that defined, for a time, America's frontier."
San Francisco Chronicle
"Tarnoff breathes fresh life into his narrative with vivid details from the archives... giving us a rich portrait of a lost world overflowing with new wealth and new talent... [A] stylish and fast-paced literary history."
Chicago Tribune
"Engrossing... By skillfully tracking the friendships and fortunes of this unusual quartet, Tarnoff narrates the awakening of a powerful new sensibility in American literature.... Tarnoff powerfully evokes the western landscapes, local cultures and youthful friendships that helped shape Twain. He has a talent for selecting details that animate the past."
Wall Street Journal
"Rich hauls of historical research, deeply excavated but lightly borne.... Mr. Tarnoff's ultimate thesis is a strong one, strongly expressed: that together these writers 'helped pry American literature away from its provincial origins in New England and push it into a broader current'."
Boston Globe
"Delightful.... Adeptly wrapping a wonderful story around these young writers, Tarnoff glides smoothly along, never dwelling too long and never claiming too much. He stacks fifty pages of endnotes at the back of the book but such archival sweat doesn't show in the prose."
Washington Post
"Tarnoff is a good storyteller and character-portraitist, with a deep knowledge of the West Coat."
Minneapolis Star Tribune
"Meticulously researched and exhilarating... Twain may be the main draw of Tarnoff's book, but Tarnoff's writing about a few of Twain's contemporaries -- Bret Harte, Charles Warren Stoddard, Ina Coolbrith -- is just as engaging."
Kansas City Star
"Tarnoff successfully contributes to the compendium [of Twain scholarship] with a fresh take on Twain's San Francisco circle, which was akin to the Algonquin Roundtable in Manhattan or 'Lost Generation' of writers in Paris."
The Daily Beast
"Lively... Tarnoff draws a vivid contrast between sardonic, sophisticated, and sartorially dapper [Bret] Harte, San Francisco's literary star, and the unkempt, uncouth Mark Twain who rolled into town in 1863, a scuffling newspaperman looking to move on and up from provincial Virginia City, Nevada."
The New Yorker's Page-Turner blog
"Tarnoff provides a fascinating snapshot of the era, when the city's prosperity and unique international character (he points out that in 1860 almost two-thirds of the city's adult males were foreign-born) brought about a thrilling, if chaotic, admixture of idealism and fun."
The Oregonian
"Deftly written, wholly absorbing."
Publishers Weekly
"Tarnoff's glimmering prose lends grandeur to this account of four writers (Mark Twain, Bret Harte, Charles Warren Stoddard, and Ina Coolbrith) who built 'an extraordinary literary scene' in the frontier boom town of 1860s San Francisco....The lively historical detail and loving tone of the interwoven biographies make a highly readable story of this formative time in American letters, starring San Francisco as the city that lifted 'Twain to literary greatness'."
Booklist
"Tarnoff energetically portrays this irresistible quartet within a vital historical setting, tracking the controversies they sparked and the struggles they endured, bringing forward an underappreciated facet of American literature. We see Twain in a revealing new light, but most affecting are Tarnoff's insights into Harte's 'downward spiral, ' Stoddard's faltering, and persevering Coolbrith's triumph as California's first poet laureate."
"Tarnoff's book sings with the humor and expansiveness of his subjects' prose, capturing the intoxicating atmosphere of possibility that defined, for a time, America's frontier."
"San Francisco Chronicle"
"Tarnoff breathes fresh life into his narrative with vivid details from the archives... giving us a rich portrait of a lost world overflowing with new wealth and new talent... [A] stylish and fast-paced literary history."
"Chicago Tribune"
"Engrossing... By skillfully tracking the friendships and fortunes of this unusual quartet, Tarnoff narrates the awakening of a powerful new sensibility in American literature.... Tarnoff powerfully evokes the western landscapes, local cultures and youthful friendships that helped shape Twain. He has a talent for selecting details that animate the past."
"Wall Street Journal"
"Rich hauls of historical research, deeply excavated but lightly borne.... Mr. Tarnoff's ultimate thesis is a strong one, strongly expressed: that together these writers 'helped pry American literature away from its provincial origins in New England and push it into a broader current'."
"Boston Globe"
"Delightful.... Adeptly wrapping a wonderful story around these young writers, Tarnoff glides smoothly along, never dwelling too long and never claiming too much. He stacks fifty pages of endnotes at the back of the book but such archival sweat doesn't show in the prose."
"Washington Post"
"Tarnoff is a good storyteller and character-portraitist, with a deep knowledge of the West Coat."
"Minneapolis Star Tribune"
"Meticulously researched and exhilarating... Twain may be the main draw of Tarnoff's book, but Tarnoff's writing about a few of Twain's contemporaries -- Bret Harte, Charles Warren Stoddard, Ina Coolbrith -- is just as engaging."
"Kansas City Star"
"Tarnoff successfully contributes to the compendium [of Twain scholarship] with a fresh take on Twain's San Francisco circle, which was akin to the Algonquin Roundtable in Manhattan or 'Lost Generation' of writers in Paris."
"The Daily Beast"
"Lively... Tarnoff draws a vivid contrast between sardonic, sophisticated, and sartorially dapper [Bret] Harte, San Francisco's literary star, and the unkempt, uncouth Mark Twain who rolled into town in 1863, a scuffling newspaperman looking to move on and up from provincial Virginia City, Nevada."
"The New Yorker"'s Page-Turner blog
"Tarnoff provides a fascinating snapshot of the era, when the city's prosperity and unique international character (he points out that in 1860 almost two-thirds of the city's adult males were foreign-born) brought about a thrilling, if chaotic, admixture of idealism and fun."
"The Oregonian"
"Deftly written, wholly absorbing."
"Publishers Weekly"
"Tarnoff's glimmering prose lends grandeur to this account of four writers (Mark Twain, Bret Harte, Charles Warren Stoddard, and Ina Coolbrith) who built 'an extraordinary literary scene' in the frontier boom town of 1860s San Francisco....The lively historical detail and loving tone of the interwoven biographies make a highly readable story of this formative time in American letters, starring San Francisco as the city that lifted 'Twain to literary greatness'."
"Booklist"
"Tarnoff energetically portrays this irresistible quartet within a vital historical setting, tracking the controversies they sparked and the struggles they endured, bringing forward an underappreciated facet of American literature. We see Twain in a revealing new light, but most affecting are Tarnoff's insights into Harte's 'downward spiral, ' Stoddard's faltering, and persevering Coolbrith's triumph as California's first poet laureate."
"The New Yorker"
Tarnoff s book sings with the humor and expansiveness of his subjects prose, capturing the intoxicating atmosphere of possibility that defined, for a time, America s frontier.
"San Francisco Chronicle"
Tarnoff breathes fresh life into his narrative with vivid details from the archives giving us a rich portrait of a lost world overflowing with new wealth and new talent... [A] stylish and fast-paced literary history.
"Chicago Tribune"
Engrossing... By skillfully tracking the friendships and fortunes of this unusual quartet, Tarnoff narrates the awakening of a powerful new sensibility in American literature.... Tarnoff powerfully evokes the western landscapes, local cultures and youthful friendships that helped shape Twain. He has a talent for selecting details that animate the past.
"Wall Street Journal"
Rich hauls of historical research, deeply excavated but lightly borne.... Mr. Tarnoff s ultimate thesis is a strong one, strongly expressed: that together these writers helped pry American literature away from its provincial origins in New England and push it into a broader current .
"Boston Globe"
Delightful.... Adeptly wrapping a wonderful story around these young writers, Tarnoff glides smoothly along, never dwelling too long and never claiming too much. He stacks fifty pages of endnotes at the back of the book but such archival sweat doesn t show in the prose.
"Washington Post"
Tarnoff is a good storyteller and character-portraitist, with a deep knowledge of the West Coat.
"Minneapolis Star Tribune"
Meticulously researched and exhilarating Twain may be the main draw of Tarnoff s book, but Tarnoff s writing about a few of Twain s contemporaries Bret Harte, Charles Warren Stoddard, Ina Coolbrith is just as engaging.
"Kansas City Star"
Tarnoff successfully contributes to the compendium [of Twain scholarship] with a fresh take on Twain s San Francisco circle, which was akin to the Algonquin Roundtable in Manhattan or Lost Generation of writers in Paris.
"The Daily Beast"
Lively Tarnoff draws a vivid contrast between sardonic, sophisticated, and sartorially dapper [Bret] Harte, San Francisco s literary star, and the unkempt, uncouth Mark Twain who rolled into town in 1863, a scuffling newspaperman looking to move on and up from provincial Virginia City, Nevada.
"The New Yorker"'s Page-Turner blog
Tarnoff provides a fascinating snapshot of the era, when the city s prosperity and unique international character (he points out that in 1860 almost two-thirds of the city s adult males were foreign-born) brought about a thrilling, if chaotic, admixture of idealism and fun.
"The Oregonian"
Deftly written, wholly absorbing.
"Publishers Weekly"
Tarnoff s glimmering prose lends grandeur to this account of four writers (Mark Twain, Bret Harte, Charles Warren Stoddard, and Ina Coolbrith) who built an extraordinary literary scene in the frontier boom town of 1860s San Francisco .The lively historical detail and loving tone of the interwoven biographies make a highly readable story of this formative time in American letters, starring San Francisco as the city that lifted Twain to literary greatness .
"Booklist"
Tarnoff energetically portrays this irresistible quartet within a vital historical setting, tracking the controversies they sparked and the struggles they endured, bringing forward an underappreciated facet of American literature. We see Twain in a revealing new light, but most affecting are Tarnoff s insights into Harte s downward spiral, Stoddard s faltering, and persevering Coolbrith s triumph as California s first poet laureate. "
The New Yorker
Tarnoff s book sings with the humor and expansiveness of his subjects prose, capturing the intoxicating atmosphere of possibility that defined, for a time, America s frontier.
San Francisco Chronicle
Tarnoff breathes fresh life into his narrative with vivid details from the archives giving us a rich portrait of a lost world overflowing with new wealth and new talent... [A] stylish and fast-paced literary history.
Chicago Tribune
Engrossing... By skillfully tracking the friendships and fortunes of this unusual quartet, Tarnoff narrates the awakening of a powerful new sensibility in American literature.... Tarnoff powerfully evokes the western landscapes, local cultures and youthful friendships that helped shape Twain. He has a talent for selecting details that animate the past.
Wall Street Journal
Rich hauls of historical research, deeply excavated but lightly borne.... Mr. Tarnoff s ultimate thesis is a strong one, strongly expressed: that together these writers helped pry American literature away from its provincial origins in New England and push it into a broader current .
Boston Globe
Delightful.... Adeptly wrapping a wonderful story around these young writers, Tarnoff glides smoothly along, never dwelling too long and never claiming too much. He stacks fifty pages of endnotes at the back of the book but such archival sweat doesn t show in the prose.
Washington Post
Tarnoff is a good storyteller and character-portraitist, with a deep knowledge of the West Coat.
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Meticulously researched and exhilarating Twain may be the main draw of Tarnoff s book, but Tarnoff s writing about a few of Twain s contemporaries Bret Harte, Charles Warren Stoddard, Ina Coolbrith is just as engaging.
Kansas City Star
Tarnoff successfully contributes to the compendium [of Twain scholarship] with a fresh take on Twain s San Francisco circle, which was akin to the Algonquin Roundtable in Manhattan or Lost Generation of writers in Paris.
The Daily Beast
Lively Tarnoff draws a vivid contrast between sardonic, sophisticated, and sartorially dapper [Bret] Harte, San Francisco s literary star, and the unkempt, uncouth Mark Twain who rolled into town in 1863, a scuffling newspaperman looking to move on and up from provincial Virginia City, Nevada.
The New Yorker's Page-Turner blog
Tarnoff provides a fascinating snapshot of the era, when the city s prosperity and unique international character (he points out that in 1860 almost two-thirds of the city s adult males were foreign-born) brought about a thrilling, if chaotic, admixture of idealism and fun.
The Oregonian
Deftly written, wholly absorbing.
Publishers Weekly
Tarnoff s glimmering prose lends grandeur to this account of four writers (Mark Twain, Bret Harte, Charles Warren Stoddard, and Ina Coolbrith) who built an extraordinary literary scene in the frontier boom town of 1860s San Francisco .The lively historical detail and loving tone of the interwoven biographies make a highly readable story of this formative time in American letters, starring San Francisco as the city that lifted Twain to literary greatness .
Booklist
Tarnoff energetically portrays this irresistible quartet within a vital historical setting, tracking the controversies they sparked and the struggles they endured, bringing forward an underappreciated facet of American literature. We see Twain in a revealing new light, but most affecting are Tarnoff s insights into Harte s downward spiral, Stoddard s faltering, and persevering Coolbrith s triumph as California s first poet laureate. "
The New Yorker
"Tarnoff's book sings with the humor and expansiveness of his subjects' prose, capturing the intoxicating atmosphere of possibility that defined, for a time, America's frontier."
San Francisco Chronicle
"Tarnoff breathes fresh life into his narrative with vivid details from the archives... giving us a rich portrait of a lost world overflowing with new wealth and new talent... [A] stylish and fast-paced literary history."
Chicago Tribune
"Engrossing... By skillfully tracking the friendships and fortunes of this unusual quartet, Tarnoff narrates the awakening of a powerful new sensibility in American literature.... Tarnoff powerfully evokes the western landscapes, local cultures and youthful friendships that helped shape Twain. He has a talent for selecting details that animate the past."
Wall Street Journal
"Rich hauls of historical research, deeply excavated but lightly borne.... Mr. Tarnoff's ultimate thesis is a strong one, strongly expressed: that together these writers 'helped pry American literature away from its provincial origins in New England and push it into a broader current'."
Boston Globe
"Delightful.... Adeptly wrapping a wonderful story around these young writers, Tarnoff glides smoothly along, never dwelling too long and never claiming too much. He stacks fifty pages of endnotes at the back of the book but such archival sweat doesn't show in the prose."
Washington Post
"Tarnoff is a good storyteller and character-portraitist, with a deep knowledge of the West Coat."
Minneapolis Star Tribune
"Meticulously researched and exhilarating... Twain may be the main draw of Tarnoff's book, but Tarnoff's writing about a few of Twain's contemporaries -- Bret Harte, Charles Warren Stoddard, Ina Coolbrith -- is just as engaging."
Kansas City Star
"Tarnoff successfully contributes to the compendium [of Twain scholarship] with a fresh take on Twain's San Francisco circle, which was akin to the Algonquin Roundtable in Manhattan or 'Lost Generation' of writers in Paris."
The Daily Beast
"Lively... Tarnoff draws a vivid contrast between sardonic, sophisticated, and sartorially dapper [Bret] Harte, San Francisco's literary star, and the unkempt, uncouth Mark Twain who rolled into town in 1863, a scuffling newspaperman looking to move on and up from provincial Virginia City, Nevada."
The New Yorker's Page-Turner blog
"Tarnoff provides a fascinating snapshot of the era, when the city's prosperity and unique international character (he points out that in 1860 almost two-thirds of the city's adult males were foreign-born) brought about a thrilling, if chaotic, admixture of idealism and fun."
The Oregonian
"Deftly written, wholly absorbing."
Publishers Weekly
"Tarnoff's glimmering prose lends grandeur to this account of four writers (Mark Twain, Bret Harte, Charles Warren Stoddard, and Ina Coolbrith) who built 'an extraordinary literary scene' in the frontier boom town of 1860s San Francisco....The lively historical detail and loving tone of the interwoven biographies make a highly readable story of this formative time in American letters, starring San Francisco as the city that lifted 'Twain to literary greatness'."
Booklist
"Tarnoff energetically portrays this irresistible quartet within a vital historical setting, tracking the controversies they sparked and the struggles they endured, bringing forward an underappreciated facet of American literature. We see Twain in a revealing new light, but most affecting are Tarnoff's insights into Harte's 'downward spiral, ' Stoddard's faltering, and persevering Coolbrith's triumph as California's first poet laureate."
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherPenguin Pr
- Publication date2014
- ISBN 10 159420473X
- ISBN 13 9781594204739
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages319
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The Bohemians: Mark Twain and the San Francisco Writers Who Reinvented American Literature
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ISBN 10: 159420473X
ISBN 13: 9781594204739
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The Bohemians: Mark Twain and the San Francisco Writers Who Reinvented American Literature
Published by
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(2014)
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The Bohemians: Mark Twain and the San Francisco Writers Who Reinvented American Literature
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The Bohemians: Mark Twain and the San Francisco Writers Who Reinvented American Literature
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The Bohemians: Mark Twain and the San Francisco Writers Who Reinvented American Literature
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The Bohemians: Mark Twain and the San Francisco Writers Who Reinvented American Literature
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The Bohemians: Mark Twain and the San Francisco Writers Who Reinvented American Literature
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