Mark Twain
Critically Acclaimed Author
Mark Twain? Who's Mark Twain?
You may know more about Mark Twain than you think! Possibly you have made references to his books or even quoted him without knowing it. He is an amazing author, and a very logical person. Mark is an important figure in our history, because he wrote bestsellers that became classics, he was a well-known humorist, and he invented many quotes that we still remember today.
His Childhood in Hannibal
Mark was born on November 30th, 1835 in Florida, Missouri to John and Jane Clemens. His parents named him Samuel Langhorne Clemens, but later in life, he'd create the alias Mark Twain and sign his stories with that name. He grew up in Hannibal with six siblings; four brothers and two sisters. When he was only twelve, he quit school after his father's sudden death to help support his family financially. His job was an apprentice printer in a newspaper shop.
Adult Life
Mark had other jobs before he became a full-time writer. He worked on a steamship (he actually got his alias from taking a nautical measurement and combining it with an old fashioned way of saying two; Mark Twain) , for different newspapers as an editor, printer, and writer, he became a fully-licensed river pilot, and briefly was a miner. In the year 1870, Mark married Olivia Langdon, the daughter of a rich coal merchant. Together they had four children; Clara, Langdon, Jean, and Susy. Sadly, Clara was the only child to live into old age, since two died in their twenties and one in infancy. Today, there are no living descendants of Mark Twain because though Clara had a daughter, her daughter never had kids of her own. Mark died April 21, 1910 at the age of 74.
Accomplishments
Mark wrote many novels in his long lifetime (over 30!) Most became timeless classics: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Innocents Abroad, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, and more. He wasn't just an amazing author, he also was well-known for being a humorist. Quotes from Mark about life, death, and other things, are still used and spoken today. It's no secret that Twain was an intelligent man.
His Bestsellers:
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Famous Words
- "Life would be infinitley happier if we could only be born at the age of eighty and gradually approach eighteen."
- "Heaven goes by favor. It it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in."
- "Patriot: the person who can holler the loudest without knowing what he is hollering about."
Now that you know...
It's important we learn about Mark Twain because he wrote many great American novels, had a great sense of humor, and made insightful comments about life and death. Now you have learned what an interesting man Mark was, and hopefully you are more interested in learning more details. I suggest you read some of his books, you won't regret it.