Mark Twain

Mark Twain by GH Jones, 1850 - retouched

Mark Twain by Abdullah Frères, 1867

Mark Twain 1871-02-07

Mark Twain House and Museum 2007

Twain in Tesla's Lab

File:Mark Twain at Stormfield (1909).webm Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens on November 30, 1835, in Florida, Missouri, is one of the most celebrated writers in American literature. Twain's works, characterized by his keen wit and incisive satire, have left an indelible mark on the literary world. He passed away on April 21, 1910, in Redding, Connecticut, but his legacy continues through his timeless novels and essays.

Early Life

Twain was the sixth of seven children born to John Marshall Clemens and Jane Lampton Clemens. In 1839, the Clemens family moved to Hannibal, Missouri, a small town on the Mississippi River, which would later serve as the inspiration for the fictional town of St. Petersburg in his most famous works, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain's childhood in Hannibal was marked by his father's death in 1847, which thrust the young Clemens into the workforce at the age of 12.

Career

Twain began his career as a printer's apprentice and later worked as a typesetter and contributor of articles and humorous sketches to his brother Orion's newspaper. His love for travel and adventure led him to become a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River, a profession that provided material for his future writings. The outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 ended his steamboat career, prompting Twain to head west with his brother to Nevada and California, where he tried his hand at mining. Eventually, he turned to journalism and found his calling as a writer.

His travelogues, such as The Innocents Abroad (1869), were immensely popular and established Twain as a celebrated author. However, it was his novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885) that cemented his place in the American literary canon. Huckleberry Finn, often hailed as the "Great American Novel", is renowned for its vivid depiction of people and places along the Mississippi River and its profound exploration of themes such as race, freedom, and morality.

Later Life and Death

Despite his success, Twain faced financial difficulties in the later part of his life, largely due to poor investments and the failure of his publishing company. He embarked on a worldwide lecture tour to pay off his debts, which was met with great success. Twain's later works include Pudd'nhead Wilson (1894) and The Mysterious Stranger, published posthumously in 1916, which reflect his increasingly cynical view of humanity.

Twain died on April 21, 1910, of a heart attack at the age of 74. He was buried in Elmira, New York, where his wife, Olivia Langdon Clemens, and their children are also interred.

Legacy

Mark Twain's legacy as a pioneering figure in American literature is undisputed. His masterful storytelling, humor, and critical eye have influenced countless writers and continue to entertain and provoke thought among readers worldwide. His home in Hartford, Connecticut, where he wrote his most famous works, is now a museum dedicated to his life and legacy.