The notorious jumping frog of calaveras country -- Journalism in tennessee - About barbers -- A literary nightmare -- The stolen white elephant -- The private history of a campaign that failed -- Fenimore cooper's literary offences -- How to tell a story.

Mark Twain's inimitable blend of humor, satire and masterly storytelling earned him a secure place in the front rank of American writers. This collection of eight stories and sketches, among them the celebrated classic "The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," shows the great humorist at the top of his form. Also included here are "Journalism in Tennessee," in which a novice newspaperman is shown the "correct way" to report a news story; "About Barbers," a delightful account of every barbershop customer's worst fear; "Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offences," Twain's hilarious savaging of that author's style, and four more: "A Literary Nightmare," "The Stolen White Elephant," "The Private History of a Campaign that Failed" and "How to Tell a Story.