This is a combo of biography and a look at culture through food during the life of Samuel Clemens AKA Mark Twin. It was okay and I think it was fair in the research that went into the book. The food was interesting though why would you invite a Vegan to dine I cannot even comprehend. It was the poorest part of the production and I wished it had been better. The point of Clemens life is he did every thing large. He ate like a glutton, drink heavily, and smoked cigars. His life was hard and his successes did not come without hard work.

I wonder whether reading this adaptation was worth it. I didn’t like the background noise and I think maybe the work by Andrew Beahr was probably better for what I was looking for. This was more a review of culture including racism. ( )

Parts of this I absolutely hated. Other parts I really enjoyed. The enjoyment parts won out. ( )

Intriguing Podcast-Style Audio Documentary
Review of the Audible Originals edition primarily narrated by Nick Offerman

Twain's Feast was one of the free Audible Originals offered* to members in November 2018 and was one of my choices. It is not so much an audiobook as an audio documentary and realization of Andrew Beahrs' "Twain's Feast: Searching for America's Lost Foods in the Footsteps of Samuel Clemens" (2010) with Beahrs participating as well in the narration.

The documentary makes an 8-course selection of Twain's 80 or so most-desired American foods that he listed in "The Innocents Abroad" when he was away from North America and craving his favourite dishes. The selections are:
1. Prairie Hens
2. Smoked Raccoon
3. Trout Amandine
4. Oysters
5. Turtle Soup
6. Sheepshead Fish
7. Cranberries
8. Maple Syrup/Sugar

With the aid of chef Tyler Anderson, the 8-course meal is created for a private gathering at the Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford, Connecticut. You can read more about the meal and see some photos here: https://we-ha.com/tyler-anderson-chosen-to-prepare-unusual-spread-mark-twains-fa... The documentary follows the selection of each course with anecdotes from Twain's life and with field recordings about the process of tracking down some of the now harder to find foods. Then the banter between the chef and the guests is recorded as each course is served. The audio quality of all of this was excellent despite the different environments that the producers worked with.

Overall, this was an intriguing and entertaining journey through Mark Twain's biography as well as the history of American food.

*As a sidenote, Patti Smith at the Minetta Lane was also offered but was not available to Canadian customers, so look for that if it is of interest and available to you. ( )