Mark Twain

Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835–1910), known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer. He was lauded as the 'greatest humorist the United States has produced,' and William Faulkner called him 'the father of American literature.' His novels include The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and its sequel, the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), the latter often called 'The Great American Novel.' Twain was raised in Hannibal, Missouri, which later provided the setting for his most famous works. He served an apprenticeship with a printer and then worked as a typesetter, contributing articles to the newspaper of his older brother Orion Clemens. He later became a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River before heading west to join Orion in Nevada. He found success in writing through his humorous story, 'The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,' which brought him international attention. His wit and satire, in prose and in speech, earned praise from critics and peers, and he was a friend to presidents, artists, industrialists, and European royalty. Twain's legacy remains vital, as his work continues to be studied for its authentic American vernacular and its sharp critique of social hypocrisy and racism.

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