St. Petersburg Section
Sunday May 10th, 1870
Missing Boys
Meeting with Mark!
Question:
Mr. Twain, in your new book, I enjoyed your allusion to Robin Hood when the boys were playing games on the island. Why did you choose that particular allusion?
Twain:
Well, as you now, Robin Hood is a well-liked story, so, what better than to have a good story character within another good story character? Plus, doesn't every boy dream of being Robin Hood?
Question:
Mark, may I call you Mark? When you wrote about Tom and Becky, was that an experience you had? Or was it a friend's experience?
Twain:
As a child, I was always one with the ladies, but, actually, it was my good friend who had a complicated and childish relationship with a girl.
Question:
Mr. Twain, the white-washing scene is a classic favorite for everybody. How and where did you get your inspiration for that?
Twain:
Actually, I got the idea from a boy and a girl white-washing a fence. The girl was doing all of the work while the boy was laying under an old oak tree. All I did was re-write that scene so it was more interesting in my book.
So, that's it folks! There are your answers to those questions. Don't forget to read my next interview with K.L. Howling; the artist with it all.
Tom Sawyer
Here is a beautiful cover of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
Mark Twain
In case you have never seen him, here is a great picture of Mark Twain.
Huckleberry Finn
Another one of Mark Twain's books; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.