Editor's Introduction

Bob Hirst is such a modest, self-effacing fellow that he will no doubt cringe when presented with this volume of tributes. That's a risk I'm willing to take, however, in order to do not only what's right but also what feels like an absolute necessity. In his forty-five years at the helm of Berkeley's Mark Twain Papers and Project, Bob has tirelessly fielded the inquiries of countless students, scholars, collectors, general readers, and casual fans from around the globe, all curious to learn more about the life and legacy of this quintessentially American writer. No question has ever been too small or inconsequential: he unfailingly responds with patience, good cheer, and an abundance of evidence—documentation (lots of it!) in the form of primary sources. Bob's generosity—as well as the depth of his expertise—are legendary. The essays in this volume, all penned by beneficiaries of that largesse over a period of nearly five decades, attest to the many ways in which he has influenced and advanced the field of Mark Twain studies. Contemporary scholarship on the writer would look radically different—and hopelessly diminished—in the absence of Bob's steadfast guidance and support. It's about time that we express our collective thanks.The lofty esteem in which Bob is held among the community of Mark Twain scholars was evident from the outset of this project. People responded quickly (literally, often within minutes of receiving my invitation to contribute) and with great enthusiasm: “For Bob? Of course I'm in!” The stories presented in the following pages—by turns funny, heartwarming, and revelatory—offer a rich, kaleidoscopic portrait of the man, who is characterized variously as a “guide and guru,” “a national treasure,” “a sort of institution, more like the Buddha than just another bubba,” and even “The Grand Panjandrum of Mark Twain Studies.” Key themes recur throughout: Bob's graciousness, humility, and extraordinary generosity; his rigorous commitment to factual accuracy; and, perhaps most remarkably, his willingness to always “go the extra mile,” setting aside the relentless demands of his own work as general editor to prepare authoritative transcriptions of letters and other unpublished materials at a scholar's request, often on a moment's notice. In all that he does, Bob embodies an inspiring standard of excellence; as biographer Ron Powers writes, he is indeed “the man to whom American culture owes a laurel wreath for his heroic preservation of the American sublime, expressed through words.”The chronological arrangement of these essays is intended to highlight the indelible imprint Bob has made on both national and international Mark Twain scholarship from the early 1980s to today. The list of contributors is, of course, representative rather than comprehensive; many other individuals not included here stand equally in his debt. While each essay offers a unique perspective on the experience of working with Bob, all share an abiding sense of affection, respect, and gratitude. In a world where, as Yeats said, “All things hang like a drop of dew/ Upon a blade of grass,” the magnitude of Bob's achievement endures: “What he undertook to do/ He brought to pass.”