A delightful collection of diverse tales, ranging from short stories and personal essays to literary criticism and travel pieces, The £1,000,000 Bank-Note gathers together nine works, many of which are now unobtainable elsewhere, that testify to the range of Twain's humor and the breadth of his interests. "The £1,000,000 Bank-Note," one of Twain's best-loved tales, is a wish-fulfillment fantasy in which a bet between two rich English eccentrics catapults a down-and-out clerk from San Francisco into wealth, status and fame in London society. The other pieces range from "Mental Telegraphy," a serious essay reflecting Twain's interest in extrasensory perception, to a tongue-in-cheek "Petition to the Queen of England" for relief from taxes. Readers will also find engaging travel essays, combining autobiographical reminiscence, tall tales, and ruminations on society and culture. Read Less