Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage (1895) is a classic Civil War novel that claims to gives a first-hand, realistic account of the war experience, which is often traumatic and without glory.

The Luck of Roaring Camp and Other Writings (1869) is a collection of some of Bret Harte's best-known works. Harte was at the forefront of American literature in his day, and paved the way for many great authors, including Mark Twain.

Rudyard Kipling's Kim (1901) is the story of an orphaned Irish boy in India who is recruited by the British Government as a spy to help keep reign over Indian soil. In his autobiography Mark Twain says this is his favorite book.

Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, originally published in 1884, is considered by many to be a seminal work of American fiction. The Annotated Huckleberry Finn (2001), edited by Michael Patrick Hearn, includes the original tale, a lengthy introduction that details the book's history, the author's intentions, the critical reception, and an exhaustive collection of explanatory notes and Twain quotes that run alongside the text.

Mark Twain's The Complete Humorous Sketches and Tales of Mark Twain (1996), edited by Charles Neider, demonstrates why people often appreciate Twain's humor.

Mark Twain's Innocents Abroad; or the New Pilgrims' Progress (1869) is a humorous narrative about Twain's steamship voyage to Europe.

When Mark Twain's Joan of Arc was published in 1895, readers noted the striking difference in tone from the author's other works. Twain spent more than a decade researching Joan's story and developed his narrative from the point of view of Louis de Conte—using a translation of Conte' s memoirs—who was with Joan from her beginning as a peasant until he served as defense counsel at her trial.

Mark Twain's Life on the Mississippi (1876) details his childhood experiences as a worker on a steamboat that traveled up and down the Mississippi River.

Mark Twain's Roughing It (1872) is an account of his many adventures journeying to and living in the developing American West.