Mark Twain Among the Indians

FAIN: FB-52976-07

Kerry Driscoll
St. Joseph College (West Hartford, CT 06117-2791)

MARK TWAIN AMONG THE INDIANS is a comprehensive examination of writer’s evolving views of native peoples during the latter half of the 19th century, as reflected in in a broad array of fiction, essays, journalistic sketches, and speeches. Given his generally sympathetic and progressive views of racial minorities, such as African-Americans and Chinese immigrants, Twain’s antagonistic attitudes about Indians represent a significant anomaly. My work in progress explores the personal, socio-historical, and cultural factors that shaped and sustained the writer’s animus; as such, I believe it will contribute to a richer, more nuanced understanding of his complex views on race.