Published October 13, 2015
Gallery Books
A chance meeting between Isabel Lyon, an unmarried nanny living in genteel poverty with her mother, and Samuel Clemens led to a partnership in which she served as his loyal secretary. Late in life Isabel married Clemens’ business partner Ralph Ashcroft. Not long after both were fired and then subjected to a well-documented, public smear campaign by Clemens and his daughter Clara. Cullen has crafted a credible speculation based on personal research of what soured the long relationship.
In “Twain’s End” Isabel is in thrall to the Great Man, whom she refers to as “The King.” He calls her “Lioness” and engages in a years-long flirtation with her, with little effort made to hide it from family, staff, or visitors.
Careful details give dimension to this absorbing story of a woman forsaking a personal life for slavish devotion to a legendary personality in his waning years. “Twain’s End” is bound to be a popular choice for book clubs. Recommended for fans of period fiction, particularly Cullen’s previous book “Mrs. Poe.”
An advance galley of this book was kindly provided by the publisher with no expectations other than an honest opinion.
