[Lunchtime Exhibition Tours] A First-Class Fool: Mark Twain and Humor

Susan Jaffe Tane, Julie Carlsen, and Gabriel Mckee will lead a guided tour of the public exhibition A First-Class Fool: Mark Twain and Humor, from her collection, which runs in the ground-floor Exhibition Hall from January 15 – April 5, 2025.

About the Exhibition

A First-Class Fool: Mark Twain and Humor examines the humorist Samuel Clemens, who crafted the great “Mark Twain” persona. Twain identified as a “first-class fool,” capturing his dual literary role as a simple, folksy author and speaker on the one hand, and an intelligent, cultured, and nuanced literary craftsman on the other. Twain worked carefully to construct his public persona, and his legacy continues to influence humorists to the present day. With more than 120 works drawn from the private collection of Susan Jaffe Tane, A First-Class Fool presents first and rare editions of Twain’s published works, including presentation copies, first periodical appearances, and uncommon variants; books from Twain’s library and other personal effects; autograph letters and manuscripts; photographs; and a wide variety of ephemera. Many of these items are displayed for the first time in this exhibition. An accompanying book, published by the Grolier Club, features scholarly essays edited by Kevin Mac Donnell and the exhibition’s curators, Susan Jaffe Tane, Julie Carlsen, and Gabriel Mckee.

Registration

If you are a Grolier Club member, please register yourself and your guests via the Club website. Do not register via Eventbrite.

Support

We appreciate your interest in the Grolier Club’s programming on the art and history of the book. For over 130 years we have offered our exhibitions and lectures to the public, free of charge. If you have enjoyed these offerings, and would like to support that tradition, and help ensure that it continues, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Grolier Club.

Accessibility

An ADA-compliant lift from street level to the lobby is available to anyone with mobility issues. All desk staff should be ready and able to assist you in operating the lift, with or without advance notice.

Host or Publisher The Grolier Club