Mark Twain's autobiography---a massive 500,000 words---was published this month after 100 years have passed since his death, per his instructions.

The University of California Press edition is flying off bookshelves as readers are intent on discovering more about the inner life and thoughts of one of America's greatest writers and humorists.

The giant, four-pound tome has already gone back to press six times to keep up with demand.

Perfectly timed with the current Twain interest, Chicago-based Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ November 18th Fine Books and Manuscripts auction offered an important piece in Twain's own hand.

The sale's top lot was a hand-written draft chapter from Twain’s A Tramp Abroad, which sold for $79,300 against a presale estimate of $30,000-50,000.

Read more about the Hindman auction, including other highlights such as Robert de Flers' Ilsee, illustrated by Alphonse Mucha, which sold for $9,760.