Mark Twain
Biography
Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910), known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer. Raised in Hannibal, Missouri, a town on the Mississippi River, his experiences there profoundly influenced his most famous works. After a diverse career as a steamboat pilot, miner, and journalist, he gained widespread recognition for his humorous travelogues and insightful social critiques. Twain’s masterpieces, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," are considered quintessential American novels, celebrated for their realism, vernacular language, and exploration of moral dilemmas. He was celebrated as the "greatest American humorist of his age" by William Faulkner, and his sharp wit and satirical observations made him a beloved public figure and a significant voice in American literature, commenting on issues ranging from slavery to human nature.
Selected Thoughts
«The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.»
«Familiarity breeds contempt—and children.»
«Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.»
Writing Style
Vernacular realism, satirical, humorous, colloquial language, vivid descriptive prose, social commentary, regional dialect, often first-person narration.