On November 18, 1865: The New York Saturday Press published “Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog,” by Mark Twain. This story is considered to be Twain’s first great success as a writer, bringing him attention nationwide. Following the mission of the narrator to learn about a man named Jim Smiley, the reader is taken through several tall tales told by a bartender he encounters. If you like anticlimactic writing, this is one for you. Twain had a knack for writing without any satisfying conclusions, which is both incredibly frustrating and intriguing all at once. Have fun!
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