August 20 Monday – Sam referred to his What Is Man? As his “Gospel.” 250 copies of What is Man? was privately, and anonymously published by DeVinne Press, NYC.

Sam maintained anonymity by having Frank N. Doubleday serve as a go-between DeVinne. The book was thus issued without an author’s name, and copyrighted under the name of J.W. Bothwell, DeVinne’s superintendent. Budd points out that the piece was begun in 1898 in Vienna, with a typescript of the first draft prepared there. After making revisions and adding sections both before and after returning to America in 1900, a second typescript was made in 1902. Again in 1905 Sam revised and reordered the piece and had a third typescript made, which was, in time, used as a printer’s copy. After DeVinne set type, Sam read proofs and made more revisions. It was finally published this day [Collected 2: 1011-12]. Note: See also Rasmussen A-Z 510, Trombley, MTOW p. 63, who writes, “Twain hoped it would create a literary sensation; instead, it fell flat…he wanted to burn the 240 volumes left.”