Joseph Hopkins Twichell: The Life and Times of Mark Twain's Closest Friend Book

I picked this book because I wanted to learn more about Mark Twain's best Hartford friend, the pastor of the Asylum Hill Congregational Church, Reverend Joe Twichell. Steve Courtney has done a magnificent job of research here. About a third of the book is on Twichell's time in the Civil War as a chaplain. Another section of the book is on his work with the Chinese in Hartford. Joe and his wife Harmony had 9 children. He was beloved by his wealthy parishioners and by many others in Hartford. His charity work was much respected, and his academic background (graduate of Yale and lifetime learner) was beyond reproach. He was known for being more like Horace Bushnell and not like Jonathan Edwards. Loving people was very important to him, not threatening them. The native of Southington (Plantsville) led a good and prosperous life, supporting others, and loving his fellow human beings. Go, Joe!