One of our prolific readers, John Greenman (The Voice of Mark Twain) received this email from a listener:
Hi John,
I have looked for your email in the past so that I could write and say that you have been blessed with the voice and the ability to speak with the rhythm that I have always thought that Mark Twain would have done if I could have but lived when he toured and lectured.
I have been a fan for my whole life, but have not truly enjoyed the books as much before now until I heard you read them.
I had wondered if you were going to do the book that he spent 10 years writing on Joan of Arc and am delighted that I will be able to hear if in your inimitable voice. It is, I think Sam’s most sentimental book, though his voice as the Connecticut Yankee when he spoke of his true love also gave voice to his more tender side and must have come from the remembrance of his wife, who he loved more than any other. The mystical Joan, he also loved for the same reasons. Her character was above politics, above greed and above self love, totally devoted to her purpose on this earth, and sacrificed to save what Sam would have called a Reptile in the French King.I have to say that I have listened to thousands of audio books in the last 20 years and most of Mark Twains writings and you are only to be compared to one man’s ability to read his writings and that man was Jack Whitaker. He read a Best of Mark Twain cassette album in 1975 and it was brilliant. The library number of it is ISBN-13: 9780807229705 . It is available used, but out of print otherwise.
Jack’s readings of the humorous short stories, What Stumped the BlueJays, The invalids tale, and Punch Brothers Punch leaves me weak with laughter and The Diaries of Adam and Eve are as poignant and funny as Sam meant them to be. If you can get a copy, you should do so. Only a fellow master of Sam’s voice can appreciate it to it’s fullest.
I am waiting patiently for the lovely Joan- Nobody ever did her so much credit as ole Sam.
All the best
Mike Burke