Mark Twain is best known for his novels and short stories. Twain uses his incredible whit to depict life in America. Paul Bourget (1852-1935) was a French novelist and critic. His novels were considered average, but he excelled as a critic. In Essays on Paul Bourget Twain shows his extensive skill as an essayist. The essays in this book are What Paul Bourget thinks of us and A little note to M. Paul Bourget.