The £1,000,000 bank-note, and other new stories

A delightful collection of diverse tales, ranging from short stories and personal essays to literary criticism and travel pieces, The £1,000,000 Bank-Note gathers together nine works, many of which are now unobtainable elsewhere, that testify to the range of Twain's humor and the breadth of his interests. "The £1,000,000 Bank-Note," one of Twain's best-loved tales, is a wish-fulfillment fantasy in which a bet between two rich English eccentrics catapults a down-and-out clerk from San Francisco into wealth, status and fame in London society. The other pieces range from "Mental Telegraphy," a serious essay reflecting Twain's interest in extrasensory perception, to a tongue-in-cheek "Petition to the Queen of England" for relief from taxes. Readers will also find engaging travel essays, combining autobiographical reminiscence, tall tales, and ruminations on society and culture.