Newswise — Most Mark Twain biographers skimmed over a short but significant period in the distinguished author’s life — the 18 months in which he lived in Buffalo (1869-1871) and served as associate editor and part owner of the Buffalo Morning Express.
Thomas J. Reigstad, semiretired Buffalo State English professor and Twain scholar, has remedied that omission with his engaging and detailed biography Scribblin’ for A Livin’: Mark Twain’s Pivotal Period in Buffalo (Prometheus Books), which is scheduled for release March 19.
Already, the book has garnered media attention, including a glowing review by Buffalo News arts editor Jeff Simon and a feature story in the Tonawanda News. Features on Reigstad also are expected to appear in the Buffalo News on March 17 and in Buffalo Spree in April. Scribblin’ for A Livin’ was a labor of love for Reigstad, a lifelong Buffalonian who began studying Twain in the early ‘70s while earning a master’s degree at the University of Missouri. Throughout his career Reigstad produced numerous essays and presentations on Twain. This is his first book.
"I had been encouraged (by his late wife, Maryanne, along with family and friends,) to write a Twain biography for years,” said Reigstad. He noticed that other biographers characterized Buffalo as cold and unable to meet the social demands of Twain and his new wife, Olivia Langdon, the daughter of a wealthy coal company owner.
Through painstaking research at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society and the Mark Twain Archives at Elmira College, along with numerous interviews, Reigstad discovered Twain actually developed a fondness for the city and forged lifelong friendships here.
Twain also experienced significant heartache. Soon after he and Olivia married, his much-admired father-in-law father died of cancer; a 24-year-old friend of his wife’s took ill and died during a visit to Twain’s home; and his son Langdon, who was born prematurely in Buffalo, died 18 months later. Reigstad was amazed that this pivotal period in Twain’s life was practically ignored by other biographers.
“I wrote the book not to defend Buffalo but to explain the network of society he mingled with, along with the important events in his life here,” Reigstad said. “In the process, I discovered a few of his long-lost stories.”
He unearthed other interesting nuggets such as a registry receipt from the Cataract Hotel during Twain’s first visit to Niagara Falls.
“It was a sweet little victory,” Reigstad said.
He also found and included previously unpublished columns and archival photographs. Reigstad knows something about the newspaper business, having spent 15 years as a features writer, copy editor, and columnist at the now defunct Buffalo Courier Express, the Niagara Falls Gazette, and Business First of Buffalo. He also served as associate editor of Buffalo Bills Insider.
At Buffalo State, Reigstad taught literature courses, prepared students to teach language arts/literacy, and designed the writer minor. In 2002, Reigstad received the President’s Award for Excellence in Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. He retired in 2007, but returned part time in fall 2012 to teach a literature course. This semester he’s teaching two courses, and he plans to lead a graduate seminar on Twain in the fall.
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