tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post8646348029849898871..comments2024-03-28T15:10:11.645-05:00Comments on Western Fictioneers: WRITER FRENEMIES: MARK TWAIN AND BRET HARTE by Vonn McKeeWestern Fictioneershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01683314579075461026noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-28121084678229067672014-10-21T08:47:13.841-05:002014-10-21T08:47:13.841-05:00Thanks for chiming in, Keith. You Brits have such ...Thanks for chiming in, Keith. You Brits have such adorable words like "penny dreadfuls" and "derring-do" that we totally forgive you for the shooting at us while wearing red coats thing.<br /><br />Have you considered that Ned Buntline and Natty Bumppo might be the same person??? Ha. Trivia: Buntline was the pseudonym of Edward Judson, Sr., whose middle name was ZANE. He was born 50 years before Pearl Zane Grey.Vonn McKeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02271500340284234767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-31816503073159619382014-10-21T05:17:14.040-05:002014-10-21T05:17:14.040-05:00Great post, Vonn. I am just catching up on the blo...Great post, Vonn. I am just catching up on the blog posts and this one jumped out at me. I love the idea of the dime novels. Over here we had the penny dreadfuls, generally about sensational Victorian creme and adventures of derring-do. I am also researching all about Ned Buntline.Keith Souterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15206349930107528691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-76514587864353290112014-10-20T13:53:10.054-05:002014-10-20T13:53:10.054-05:00I think that, ultimately, Twain's extraordinar...I think that, ultimately, Twain's extraordinary talent and rock-star charisma separated him from many of his peers. He didn't approve of some of Harte's moral decisions. That doesn't diminish the importance of Harte's writings, in my opinion. Twain just outgrew the relationship.<br /><br />Yes, the loss of Livy (and daughters Susy and Jean) changed everything for Twain.<br /><br />Convention details will be announced soon! Watch your inboxes!Vonn McKeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02271500340284234767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-56966033252422797412014-10-20T08:06:42.602-05:002014-10-20T08:06:42.602-05:00Bet it was the collaboration of the play!! great p...Bet it was the collaboration of the play!! great post, Vonn, and definitely interesting. Twain is better known than Harte, probably due to all his touring, and that also could have been the loosening of the linchpin. As for the convention -- WHEN?? WHERE???? yeehaw!Meghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10734148270217773194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-50424270732660090022014-10-19T21:43:38.815-05:002014-10-19T21:43:38.815-05:00I do confess to a partiality to Twain, but I grew ...I do confess to a partiality to Twain, but I grew up in Twain country, but both were on my reading list when young. <br /><br />This type of discussion and post are what I love about this group. Wonderful information and lively discussions afterwards. I think after the loss of his wife, Twain lost his anchor and his dissent into anger from satire was somewhat inevitable. DorisRenaissance Womenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09045401344374224512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-37361291740693510982014-10-19T18:27:30.066-05:002014-10-19T18:27:30.066-05:00Love this post, Micki! One can only imagine the he...Love this post, Micki! One can only imagine the heartache of having such a good friend that turned to enemy. I watched a documentary on Mark Twain not long ago--it seemed he alienated a good many people, friends and family alike--even his own daughter. Makes you think he might have been a bit unbalanced.<br />CherylCheryl Piersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18116526340220274282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-75540464521637702002014-10-19T18:12:35.738-05:002014-10-19T18:12:35.738-05:00You're so right, Oscar. I wonder if Twain even...You're so right, Oscar. I wonder if Twain even owned a weapon? He hardly needed one outside of his own tongue.Vonn McKeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02271500340284234767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-68081476869077930752014-10-19T15:54:31.759-05:002014-10-19T15:54:31.759-05:00I guess the animosity was not heavy enough for a d...I guess the animosity was not heavy enough for a duel between the two. Barbs were enough. Oscar Casehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10328166606910469945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-47992309343952428612014-10-19T11:41:07.873-05:002014-10-19T11:41:07.873-05:00Frank,
Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, there are some f...Frank,<br /><br />Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, there are some fascinating folks in this group. That's one reason I look forward to meeting up with all of you at the 2015 convention!Vonn McKeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02271500340284234767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-74552450853514041092014-10-19T11:38:29.092-05:002014-10-19T11:38:29.092-05:00Charlie,
I could have included more stories about...Charlie,<br /><br />I could have included more stories about these two titans but didn't want to risk losing readers. <br /><br />My friend Dr. Cindy Lovell at the Mark Twain Home and Museum in Hartford SWEARS that "Roughing It" was the first western novel. She's a little biased, of course!<br /><br />Cindy also said that the creator of Wile E. Coyote based the character solely on Twain's description of a coyote in Chapter 5 of "Roughing It." The things you learn!Vonn McKeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02271500340284234767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-43159800045624100592014-10-19T11:30:11.831-05:002014-10-19T11:30:11.831-05:00Joanne,
I know! Call me a liar, a thief and a sot...Joanne,<br /><br />I know! Call me a liar, a thief and a sot...but a Jeremy Diddler??? Ha.Vonn McKeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02271500340284234767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-2227540364876537402014-10-19T10:28:09.157-05:002014-10-19T10:28:09.157-05:00Vonn,
This is truly a remarkable article. Like y...Vonn,<br /><br />This is truly a remarkable article. Like you I love books and at several times in my life, especially as a young man, places where I lived looked much like that book cave picture you show in your piece. In Berlin, I lived in a schloss, and deliberately picked rooms in the basement, knowing I would fill the place with books---and I did.<br /><br />Wonderful research and information about Harte and Twain, very enlightening!<br /><br />When talking about the start of Westerns and the genre, (oh how I hate that word and its invention), my research puts the massive interest and success to Zane Grey, who effectively and overwhelming took the country by storm with his novels, short stories, and later movies, based on his books.<br /><br />Great stuff Vonn, keep it coming.<br /><br />Charlie Steel<br />Charlie Steelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16992330591519249699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-5297295269101541202014-10-19T06:17:59.846-05:002014-10-19T06:17:59.846-05:00The pool of knowledge in this group runs deep. I k...The pool of knowledge in this group runs deep. I keep learning things in these blogs. Thanks for this one, Micki.Frank Roderusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-82514885331819533952014-10-19T04:52:12.800-05:002014-10-19T04:52:12.800-05:00You live and learn...Jeremy Diddler is a fictional...You live and learn...Jeremy Diddler is a fictional character in James Kenney's 1803 farce Raising the Wind. A needy, artful swindler, Jeremy Diddler has become a stock farce character, and the word "diddle" may be derived from him. Jo Walpolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13972318968316588965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1409887812566625284.post-12392722021223127582014-10-19T04:49:51.846-05:002014-10-19T04:49:51.846-05:00I enjoyed your post but have to say Mark Twain'...I enjoyed your post but have to say Mark Twain's 'Jeremy Diddler' was my favourite bit because it made me titter, even though (or maybe because) I have no idea what it means. Off now to look it up on the Internet and hoping it's not really rude. Thanks.Jo Walpolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13972318968316588965noreply@blogger.com