"Melton's book addresses the issues of race, imperialism and culture in a measured, thoughtful way. . . . Melton is making deliberate headway and guiding the reader upstream, not simply allowing the reader to be swept passively along with the tide"
--Mark Twain Forum
"This book should be compelling to anyone interested in Twain, travel writing, or Americans' attitudes about travel. It may be a testament to Twain's enduring insights--or maybe just proof that human nature doesn't change--that his observations about American travelers are as relevant in the age of the jet as they were in the days of the steamship"
--Foreword
"Worthwhile reading for humor scholars, Twainiacs, and those interested in travel and travel theory generally." — Choice
