Is it possible to take the mythical Mark Twain off of the Mississippi and onto the Ganges? In 1895 the celebrated author did just that—in a whirlwind, round-the-world book tour that he documented in this rollicking book. A true classic of travel writing, Following the Equator is a delight—literally, a chance to see the world through the eyes of America's most unique and intriguing author.
Twain's tour took him from Australia to Bombay to Johannesburg and resulted in an evocative and highly unique American portrait of 19th-century travel and customs.
In one memorable passage, Twain relates the story of his wife's receipt of a letter describing Twain's death while on a lecture tour in Australia. He also gives lengthy descriptions of his experiences in India, where he attends the wedding of a 12-year-old girl, witnesses a murder trial, and rides an elephant. All of his anecdotes combine his trademark wit with his keen understanding of social nuance, making for penetrating—and often hilarious—reading.
