Mark Twain's Autobiography in short supply

[J. Strnad]

Apparently they can't print copies of Mark Twain's posthumous autobiography fast enough to meet demand, leaving bookshelves wanting as the holiday season approaches.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/20/bo...n.html?_r=2&hp

The exception would be, of course...oh, I don't really have to say it, do I?

[AlexBell]

Just as a matter of interest: If Mark Twain has been dead for a hundred years is his autobiography still copyright?

Regards, Alex

[neilmarr]

I'd guess that copyright is based on publication date, Alex. Interesting question. Must dig.

There's very little -- if anything -- in this book, though, that hasn't already been exposed over the years by researchers who were allowed access to the manuscript. There are, in fact, two earlier 20th century books that claim to contain every line.

Cheers. Neil

[Mike L]

It's not just the book that's in short supply. BBC Radio broadcast extracts from it last week, but when I searched for it on iPlayer, it was nowhere to be found.

[SensualPoet]

The publisher will wrap copyright around all the things produced for this specific edition ... like the "editing". Mark Twain's actual words are out of copyright even though they are just now arriving in print. It's his death that matters and rumours of it, this time, are not exaggerated.

[wallcraft]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

It's his death that matters and rumours of it, this time, are not exaggerated.

Correct. In the US the copyright on unpublished works is life of the author + 70 years. However, from an Amazon customer Review

Second this is an academic press which means that there is a long introduction and discussion of prior autobiographical starts by Mark Twain (1870-1905) for two hundred pages. The actual autobiography of Mark Twain is only 270 pages of transcriptions from his dictation of his 1906 attempt to write his life story. Following the narrative are an additional 150+ pages of notes, index and appendixes. Two more volumes will be published later.

So there is plenty of newly copyrighted material outside of Twain's work.

[AlexBell]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

The publisher will wrap copyright around all the things produced for this specific edition ... like the "editing". Mark Twain's actual words are out of copyright even though they are just now arriving in print. It's his death that matters and rumours of it, this time, are not exaggerated.

Yes, I understand that. But the document which makes up the autobiography must exist somewhere. If I could find it would it be copyright?

Regards, Alex

[neilmarr]

I believe, Alex, that the original ms is open to consult in situ and by request for research purposes. At least it was for much of the 20th century and early this century. Many extracts have been copied and published as well as a couple of earlier books claiming to represent the entire text. One of the main criticisms I've read about the new book is that there's nothing in it that hasn't been fully, accurately and publicly revealed in the past. Neil

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by AlexBell

Just as a matter of interest: If Mark Twain has been dead for a hundred years is his autobiography still copyright?

Regards, Alex

I looked into this when the news of the new edition of the full autobiopgraphy surfaced.

In the US, some parts are out of copyright, and some parts are in copyright. (Copyright parts are mainly those bits previously published between 1923 and 1977)
In Canada, none of his works, published or unpublished, are in copyright
In the UK, some parts are out of copyright, and some parts are in copyright. (Copyright parts are mainly those bits previously unpublished and now newly published)

Elsewhere it'll depend on local laws on unpublished posthumous works.

[januaryman]

At under $10 at Amazon, I picked up that Kindle copy to join the too-heavy-to-tote-everywhere hardcover edition I had previously snapped up at once. The ebook version is a much more pleasant reading experience for me.