The chapters were about the lock at Keokuk, republished in the anthology on American Lit that we used, a few years after the book came out. I agree, more profs should teach Bissell. Bissell also wrote the Rivers of America volume on the Mononagehela, based on his piloting experience there, and the book (7-1/2 Cents) which became the musical Pajama Game. This was based on his experiences running his family's garment factory. Then he wrote Say Darling about how the musical was made. ASOTR was a hit when first published in July 1950--it was reprinted twice in July and again in October.

Bissell's story of life on a towboat is a perfect complement to Twain's "Life on the Mississippi". I have spent almost thirty years working on the River and if I had to recommend only one book that explains what the people and towboat life is like, this would be the book. His depiction of river characters and their dialog is perfect. It may be more a reflection of the type of people who go to the river to work, you can draw a line from Mike Fink stories through Twain and Bissell and find those same people riding boats on the rivers of America's backyards. I believe I read somewhere that Mickey Spillane said Richard Bissells' writing showed him what dialog in a book should be. Bissell's other river book, "High Water", should not be missed. Both books should be available through the Minnesota Historical Society Press.

I am one of the few people out there who not only know who Richard Bissell is, I'm trying to collect all of his books! I actually bought a first edition of ASotR once, thinking it was the only edition, started to read it just long enough to realize how great it was, and lost it. I've read every novel and most of the nonfiction Bissell wrote, and this was going to be the last 'new' (to me, anyway) thing I read by him. I'd read about it plenty of times in glowing blurbs on the back of his other novels.

Now, I have to find another one. Do you have any idea where I could find a copy of either the paperback reissue or the original hardback edition? Help a man on his quest!

By the way, if you like Bissell, you should probably try reading Charles Portis, who may be even better.