Volume 1 of 2. In this autobiography, Mark Twain is speaking from the grave, literally. He would not allow the book to be published until after his death, so that he could speak freely, as in a love letter. In the manner in which Twain is so well-known, his autobiography is really not an autobiography at all, but a series of entertaining stories and opinions, dinner table
Volume 1 of 2. In this autobiography, Mark Twain is speaking from the grave, literally. He would not allow the book to be published until after his death, so that he could speak freely, as in a love letter. In the manner in which Twain is so well-known, his autobiography is really not an autobiography at all, but a series of entertaining stories and opinions, dinner table talks, such as he had always delivered in his own home and elsewhere, and with about the same latitude and elaboration. Twain's narrative is not in any sense a mere fairy tale, many of the chapters, especially the earlier ones, are vividly true in their presentation. The things he told of Mrs. Clemens and Susy are marvelously and beautifully true in spirit and aspect, and the story as a whole is amazingly faithful in the character picture it presents of the man himself.
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Paperback
,
386 pages
Published
June 5th 2003
by Kessinger Publishing, LLC
(first published January 1st 1925)
Samuel Langhorne Clemens
, better known by his pen name
Mark Twain
, was an American author and humorist. He is noted for his novels
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
(1885), called "the Great American Novel", and
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
(1876).
Twain grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, which would later provide the setting for
Huckleberry Finn
and
Tom Sawyer
. He apprenticed with a printer. He also work
Samuel Langhorne Clemens
, better known by his pen name
Mark Twain
, was an American author and humorist. He is noted for his novels
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
(1885), called "the Great American Novel", and
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
(1876).
Twain grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, which would later provide the setting for
Huckleberry Finn
and
Tom Sawyer
. He apprenticed with a printer. He also worked as a typesetter and contributed articles to his older brother Orion's newspaper. After toiling as a printer in various cities, he became a master riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River, before heading west to join Orion. He was a failure at gold mining, so he next turned to journalism. While a reporter, he wrote a humorous story, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," which proved to be very popular and brought him nationwide attention. His travelogues were also well-received. Twain had found his calling.
He achieved great success as a writer and public speaker. His wit and satire earned praise from critics and peers, and he was a friend to presidents, artists, industrialists, and European royalty.
However, he lacked financial acumen. Though he made a great deal of money from his writings and lectures, he squandered it on various ventures, in particular the Paige Compositor, and was forced to declare bankruptcy. With the help of Henry Huttleston Rogers, however, he eventually overcame his financial troubles. Twain worked hard to ensure that all of his creditors were paid in full, even though his bankruptcy had relieved him of the legal responsibility.
Born during a visit by Halley's Comet, he died on its return. He was lauded as the "greatest American humorist of his age", and
William Faulkner
called Twain "the father of American literature".