gems, politics, al-Biruni

A posthumous collection of philosophical, autobiographical, and humorous essays. The title dialogue examines free will, self-interest, conscience, and the influence of heredity and environment on human conduct. Other pieces address personal loss, turning points in Twain’s life, history, travel, language, religion, literary criticism, and the Shakespeare authorship controversy. Combines satire and sceptical argument with personal reminiscence, revealing the breadth of Twain’s later thought and prose.