ABSTRACT
MarkTwain'scontemporarycriticswereuneasyinthepresenceofthe Westernhumour,thehighspiritsandthevernacularlanguagewhich characterizedmuchofMarkTwain'smosteffectivework.Even Americancriticswerereluctanttoacceptasenduringliterature humorouswritingwhichbrokeawayfromthegentleironyofthe NewEnglandwriterstowhomtheywereaccustomed.Inanagewhen pietyandthereinforcementofconventionalvirtueswereexpected literaryconcerns,reviewerswantedthe'moralpurpose'ofhumourto beclearlyevident.Theurbanewitandsentimentwhichprevailedat OliverWendellHolmes'breakfast-tableandoverhisBostonianteacupswa~farmorecomfortablethanthehorse-playandfrontieryarns whichamusedmeninsmokyWesternsaloons.Butmostcriticsinthe UnitedStates,EnglandandthroughoutEuropedidcometoaccept MarkTwainonhisowntermsevenifalmostalwayswithreservations. MarkTwainwasnotuninterestedinwhatreviewersmightsay,but hischosensubjectsandstyleshownochangeasaresultofcriticism.He educatedthecriticsinhispurposesratherthanacceptingtheirinstruction onthepropersubjectsforliterature.
