Mark Twain at the Gallows

This book is a literary exploration of Mark Twains writings on crime in the American West and its intersection with morality, gender and justice. Writing from his office at the Enterprise newspaper in the Nevada Territory, Twain employed a distinct style of crime writing one that sensationalized facts and included Twains personal philosophies and observations. Covering Twains journalism, fictional works and his own personal letters, this book contextualizes the writers coverage of crime through his anxieties about westward expansion and the promise of a utopian West. Twains observations on the West often reflected common perceptions of the day, positioning him as a voice of the people on issues like crime, punishment and gender.