A very interesting book for those curious about food-oriented history. Beahrs, in a personable tone, explores Twain's list of most-beloved American foods and hones in on several to explore them within the context of the 19th century and what has happened to them now--if they still exist. This, in many ways, is a book about conservation, ecology, and how tastes and perspectives of foods can evolve over time. The book discusses Midwest prairie hens, racoons and possum, Lake Tahoe trout, oysters and mussels of San Francisco, Philadelphia terrapin, New Orleans sheephead fish, and cranberries. Twain's life and stories are woven throughout. ( )

A creative take on American food history, drawing on a sort of dream meal written up by Mark Twain. Lots of interesting detail on historical and contemporary American food through a Twainesque lens. ( )

A terrific examination of literary great Samuel Clemens/Mark Twain and his tremendous appetite for river life and the outstanding regional foods of early America. ( )

I can't honestly rate this. I received this from the First Reads ARC giveaway program on goodreads.com. I was excited to read something outside my usual genres. Well, I'm sincerely sorry - it was just so unfamiliar to my interests that I found it boring. Beautifully crafted, but *to me* unfinishable.

It's easy to think of ideas like sustainable foods, food deserts and locally sourced foods as trendy, hipster concepts that are easily mocked, but Mr. Bearhs makes the point that such concepts are in fact a return to the source of good, truly American cuisine. He also makes a strong case for the necessity of sustainable and locally-sourced food as a way of preserving the environment, and he does all of this in eminently readable prose, both his own and in well-selected quotes from Mark Twain. ( )