Harold: The Boy Who Became Mark Twain

From a boyhood spent wondering about parents who abandoned him to his iconic portrayal of Mark Twain, renowned stage and screen actor Holbrook recounts his early life in this stirring memoir. Raised primarily in South Weymouth, Mass., by his paternal grandparents after his father was committed to an asylum and his mother left for New York, Holbrook idolized his grandfather and was devastated by his death when Holbrook was 12 in 1937. He first discovered his love for theater at the Culver Military Academy, signing up for a drama class on a whim. He enrolled in Denison University's theater program after a stint in the army during WWII and took part in as many plays as possible. It was during his time in the army that he met his future wife, Ruby. Together, they went on the road in 1948, performing for clubs and schools around the country. But Holbrook's drive for success%E2%80%94and the fear of ending up like his father%E2%80%94led to marital strain even as his career took off and he performed his first solo act as Mark Twain, a role that would define him. While Holbrook's career stretches on for another half century, this encapsulation of his first 34 years is a movingly honest account of a life spent searching for meaning and purpose. (Sept.)