In 1909, Samuel Clemens- Mark
Twain- first blessed the marriage of his secretary, Isabel Lyon, to his
business manager, Ralph Ashcroft, and then, one month later, fired them both and
went on a rampage of invective against Lyon. Why did he do this after she’d
served him for seven years? He claimed- in newspapers as well as in a 400 page
manuscript- she stole from him, she was a drunk, she lied, and that she had
attempted to seduce him. He took back the small house he’d deeded over to Lyon
and her mother. Clemens and Lyon had previously enjoyed a close- some in the
household said too close- relationship. What happened?
Most took Clemens’ version at face
value. But author Cullen had access to Lyon’s diary that she kept during her
time in Clemens’ employ. A very different story emerged from that, one that
clears Lyon’s name. This novel brings Lyon’s time with Clemens to life and
shows us a side of Clemens not usually seen: how he hated the persona of Mark
Twain that he had invented to charm the American public, a persona he felt obliged
to keep alive no matter what it did to his family. And he was a man who
constantly sought attention and love.
The story covers the time of his
beloved wife dying; his collecting of young girls as ‘angelfish’; the death of
his daughter Jean; his meeting with Helen Keller, Anne Sullivan, and Sullivan’s
husband John Macy; the affair of his daughter Clara with her married musical accompanist
and her subsequent marriage to another man, and Lyon’s own marriage. Cullen’s
use of period details- dress, home décor, transportation, and more- bring the
story to life. Lyon emerges as a good woman who has the misfortune to love
someone unsuitable for her; Clemens seems to be a considerably darker figure
that the Mark Twain we are introduced to in school. Very interesting if sad
story.
The above is an affiliate link. If you click through and buy something- anything- Amazon will give me a few cents.
I received this book free from the Amazon Vine program in return for a fair review.
Neither of these things influenced my review.
I like biographies. Other than reading some of his works, I don't know much about Clemens. One day I'll get around to this.
ReplyDelete