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The Bohemians: Mark Twain And The San Francisco Writers Who Reinvented American Literature (2014)

by Ben Tarnoff(Favorite Author)

3.72 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

159420473X (ISBN13: 9781594204739)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Penguin Press HC, The

review 1: I don’t know all that much about the San Fran lit-scene (their noise-rock scene? call me, I’d love to chat), historically or otherwise, but this book gave an AMAZING account. It’s as if you got a press release of what’s happening that season not from a publishing company, but just a city itself.So who’s it about? Or specifically, who’s these folks featured on the cover?(1) Mark Twain. Really, inspiring stuff about how this guy was NOT even that well liked or received in America and how he was working at newspapers for much of his life. I think a lot of us (at least me) think this guy writes one book; fame is immediate. Not the case. Cool stuff to here.(2) Bret Harte. A guy I’d never really known much about before this book; apparently a literary ‘golden boy... more’ with a little bit of an ego. Celebrated in his time, if not that importnat in the long run.(3) Charles Warren Stoddard. The poor gay poet type. Really, a guy without a home, or any kind of place to call his own. I would have loved to see a story of how San Francisco SAVED HIM, gave him a refuge and all that, but…(4) Ina Coolbrith. My new lit-hero and the girl I’m planning to read up on more. Seriously – it’s the 1860’s and this girl is organizing meetings and hanging out with TWAIN and all these other cool guys of lit! She reaches icon status.It’s a interesting read, if hard at times to get a proper footing in the context. But, if you have interest in writers’ circles, how one author influences another, this will be right up your alley.
review 2: What a great read. Tarnoff can really write! Was afraid, given his subjects (Coolbrith, Stoddard, Harte, and Twain), that he would try a little too hard with his own prose making it overwrought. But not so! He's got a great fluid style while being remarkably insightful. He offered a refreshing insight on the lives of all four writers. Would have loved to have read more excepts from the published works of his four subjects. But, in retrospect, it would have detracted from storyline of the intersection of the lives of these four individuals. Would highly recommend this book. Especially so if you're native to Northern California. less

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