"When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years." What Mark Twain book did that quote come from?

rlaj	Old Times on the Mississippi. [Jun 09 04 2:26 PM] rlaj writes: Da284, I am not sure it was a book, it may have been an article. My reference shows it to come from: "Old Times on the Mississippi" Atlantic Monthly, 1874." Jun 09 04, 11:44 AM

barneybusa

A searchable version of the original seven-part Atlantic monthly series of 1875 is at http://docsouth.unc.edu/southlit/twainold/twain.html. Twain later returned to the river in 1882, expanded the narrative, retitling it "Life on the Missippi." A searchable version of this book is at http://www.online-literature.com/booksearch.php. Unfortunately, the "when I was a boy of fourteen" quote appears in neither database. I am also furiously reviewing my unabridged Twain tomes, but I am wondering if this is yet another modern saw attributed to a famous author to lend it implied veracity. Others? Oct 08 09, 9:58 PM

queproblema

I'm quite sure it's not in any of his books, but would be surprised if he never uttered it on a lecture tour. Can't prove it, though. http://etext.virginia.edu/railton/about/srchmtf.html http://www.sierracollege.edu/ejournals/jsnhb/v1n3/twain.html Oct 08 09, 11:16 PM

Zbeckabee

"When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years." Anonymous, often erroneously attributed to Mark Twain. http://www.allgreatquotes.com/funny_quotes356.shtml Oct 09 09, 4:29 AM