Mark Twain

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Mark Twain

• 1835 1910

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Mark Twain

• Born as Samuel Langhorne Clemens in Missouri
• forced to go to work as a newspaper editor at the
  age of 12, after his father died (mostly to help
  support mother and sister)
• At 18, he set out on his own as a printer for the
  next 15 years.
• Discovered a love for steamboats that filled the
  Mississippi River.
• Received his pen name Mark Twain from boat,
  dealing with marking water depth.
• Most celebrated humorist in American history and
  literature.
• In addition to being a humorist, he is also
  labeled as a Realist (a bit ironic)
• Behind the humor in his literature, exists a
  revelation of reality
• Active in Civil War with Confederates, but
  abandoned military life quickly to be a gold
  prospector in Nevada.
• Didnt get rich, but became inspired through
  storytelling

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Mark Twain

• In 1871, he moved to Connecticut and built a
  large home that is visited today by thousands of
  tourists yearly.
• Began publishing work (including Roughing It and
  Life on the Mississippi)
• Began writing The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876)
  
• Tone and voice difficulties / couldnt decide if
  he was writing for children or adults
• In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884),
  Twain found the voice he was seeking.
• Could never duplicate the success of this novel,
  but continued to write
• His later years were filled with financial,
  professional and personal tragedy
• Bankruptcy
• Death oldest daughter in 1896 (meningitis),
  wife in 1904 (chronic illness), and youngest
  daughter in 1909 (epileptic seizure)
• I know now what the soldier feels when a bullet
  crashes through his heart.