Mark Twain an American Icon 1835-1910

As a young man, Twain worked as a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River. When he started his writing career, Samuel Langhorne Clemens adopted the name Mark Twain, which meant two fathoms, a safe depth for a riverboat.

In 1861, Samuel Clemens avoided the brewing Civil War by going west In 1861, Samuel Clemens avoided the brewing Civil War by going west. He took his first writing job as a reporter at the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise. Serious news was often mixed with ‘reports’ that had to be taken with a grain of salt. Soon, he began using the name Mark Twain and affixing it to sketches, reportage, and an occasional hoax. It was a time when he first discovered his talent, his calling, and his voice.

At 34 years of age he married Olivia Langdon Clemens At 34 years of age he married Olivia Langdon Clemens. She was the daughter of a New York coal magnate, a member of the country’s wealthy elite. She would be partner, editor, and fellow traveler in success and failure for the next 35 years. She would also furnish him her family’s home in Elmira, New York, a place where he visited often and wrote many of his best-loved books. Twain had four children, Langdon, who died at 19 months from diphtheria, Susy, Clara, and Jean.

Twain’s first book was The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County (1867). He published over 30 works of literature which included satire, historical fiction, non-fiction, and short stories. Though his most famous novel is criticized for being racist, Mark Twain never expected nor intended the controversy that arose with the publication of Huckleberry Finn (1885). Mark Twain was not racist, but depicted life in his times.

“I have no color prejudices nor cast prejudices nor creed prejudices “I have no color prejudices nor cast prejudices nor creed prejudices. All I care to know is that a man is a human being, and that is enough for me; he can’t be any worse.” ~ Mark Twain

By 1900, Twain had become America’s foremost celebrity By 1900, Twain had become America’s foremost celebrity. He was invited to attend ship launchings, anniversary gatherings, political conventions, and countless dinners. Reporters met him at every port of call, anxious to print a new quip from the famous humorist. To enhance his image, he took to wearing white suits and loved to stroll down the street and see people staring at him.

In time, the Clemens’ home became a revolving door for the leading names of the day: Howells, Sherman, Cable, Harte, and others. But it also saw Clemens involve himself in fanciful investment schemes that let to his bankruptcy – and eventual departure for Europe.

Because of financial problems, Clemens lived in Europe from 1891-1901, but this was neither his first nor last trip abroad. In fact, he was an inveterate traveler. From the age of 17 to the last few weeks of his life he was always discovering new places and revisiting old. He crisscrossed the Atlantic more than a dozen times and also saw Turkey, Palestine, Hawaii, Australia, India, and South Africa.

When Clemens died on April 21, 1910, newspapers around the country declared, “The whole world is mourning.” By then he had long since ceased to be a private citizen. He had become Mark Twain, a proud possession of the American nation. “I was sorry to have my name mentioned as one of the great authors, because they have a sad habit of dying off. Chaucer is dead, Spencer is dead, so is Milton, so is Shakespeare, and I’m not feeling so well myself.” ~ Mark Twain

Mark Twain was one of the greatest artists of all time Mark Twain was one of the greatest artists of all time. He was, and is, one authentic giant of our national literature. Twain’s quotes and humor are as popular today as at any time in American history.

“The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them.” “Classic – a book which people praise and don’t read.”

”It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.”

Pudd’nhead Wilson (1894) A story of slavery written almost 40 years after the end of the Civil War. Written during a period of time when Twain had a series of personal financial disasters, causing Twain’s writing to be pessimistic and dark. Themes: nature versus nurture honor identity reputation a mother’s love/unconditional love Maxims: a short statement expressing a general truth, rule of conduct, or principle.

Pudd’nhead Wilson As you read and journal, consider… motives for characters’ actions relationship between characters importance of characters’ behaviors words feelings actions thoughts Twain is considered one of the premiere authors to use the regional voice of that time period in his novel. Twain used speech patterns and pronunciation (dialect) to give black characters a realistic voice of their own.

References https://www.google.com http://www.marktwainhouse.org/man/twains_children.php