NEW YORK, N.Y., June 29,1998 – Rumors of the death of the 72-year-old Mark Twain Association of New York last year were not exaggerated, unfortunately. Now, however, several members of that venerable literary society are launching a new group to take up the cause, the Mark Twain Circle of New York, with its first meeting planned for Saturday, July 18."If you only know Mark Twain from Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, it may seem surprising that he was associated with New York City for nearly sixty years of his life," says author and Twain scholar Peter Salwen, one of the new group’s founders. "New Yorkers have always tended to share Twain’s irreverence and his contempt for sham and hypocrisy, and today’s headlines prove that his perennial humor and wisdom are still amazingly on target.
"The Mark Twain Circle is a place where anyone with an enthusiasm for Twain’s writings, and his fascinating life and times, can meet with others who share that interest. We hope it will be the kind of group Twain would have approved of, where everyone is welcome, whether for serious scholarship or just to share your favorite Twain quotes or jokes with neighbors. If the meeting brings out the kind of interest and support we expect, we hope to go on and offer more ambitious programs in the future, with guest speakers, book discussions and performances."
The Mark Twain Circle of New York inaugural brunch, including a short slide talk on "Mark Twain’s New York," will be held from 1 to 4 P.M. on Saturday, July 18th at Pete's Tavern, on Irving Place at East 18th Street. Pete's is a venerable establishment with, appropriately, literary associations of its own: a plaque marks the table where O. Henry, almost late for a deadline, is said to have dashed off his famous Christmas story, "The Gift of the Magi" as an apoplectic editor paced nearby.
Brunch is $9.50 plus tax and tip; there is no other membership or admission fee.
For reservations, contact The Mark Twain Circle of New York at 212/242-5546 or 212/384-8081, or use your mouse here to request an reservation by e-mail.
To learn more about Mark Twain and New York, see our Mark Twain's New York Web page.
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The Quotable Mark Twain (some of his best sayings)
"Mark Twain, 'Belle of New York'" (article on Twain's New York years)
Mark Twain In Cyberspace (the best Web links: annotated list)
"Mark Twain and Walt Whitman"
"Is Huck Finn Racist?"
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