I'm glad Wikipedia has it marked semi-autobiographical because when I first read it awhile ago I didn't realize that. I caught on after I read his quote "Never

I'm glad Wikipedia has it marked semi-autobiographical because when I first read it awhile ago I didn't realize that. I caught on after I read his quote "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story" some time around the time I read that book. I feel "Life On The Mississippi" is probably his most true book for two reasons: 1) Becoming a steam boat pilot was a deeply formative experience 2) He lost his younger brother Henry Clemens to a steam boat boiler explosion and he wanted to honor his memory.