The Life of Samuel Clemens A.K.A. Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens, also referred to as Mark Twain, is a well-known figure in American Literature. He excels in various genres including novelist, short story writer, essayist, journalist, and literary critic.
Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, was born in 1835 in Florida Missouri to John Marshall Clemens and Jane Lampton. In 1839, his family moved to Hannibal, Missouri, a small town with less than 500 residents. Despite its size, Hannibal offered valuable resources and prospects for Twain as an aspiring writer. The majority of the town’s population belonged to the lower social class, including impoverished whites and slaves who were familiar with Samuel.
Hannibal, being a town frequented by farmers and travelers, particularly steamboat men, circus performers, minstrel companies, and showboat actors, was a thriving hub of activity. This bustling environment served as a rich inspiration for Samuel’s stories, as it provided him with abundant literary material.
Shortly after his father passed away in 1847, Mark Twain ended his schooling and became an apprentice to a printer. Similar to many authors of the nineteenth century, he was preparing for his writing career later in life. While working as a printer’s apprentice, he gained experience as a typesetter and read various materials. His first written pieces were a few skits for his brother Orion’s newspaper in Hannibal and a sketch titled “The Dandy Frightening The Squatter,” which was published in Boston in 1852. Mark Twain’s first published book was “Life on the Mississippi River.”
Between 1853 and 1857, Clemens worked as a journeyman printer in seven different locations and embarked on a journey towards the east via boat. In 1867, Twain commenced writing letters documenting his visits to New York and the Middle West while encountering various troubles, including disorderly conduct.
As time passed, Mark wrote short stories and sketches occasionally. Yet, in 1869, he became a co-owner of the Buffalo Express. In late 1870, Mark met Olivia Langdon, his ideal woman, and they married in Elmira, New York. Subsequently, in 1884, he penned one of his most cherished tales: The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn.
Despite achieving great financial success with his written books, Clemens ultimately declared bankruptcy in 1894. After the passing of his daughter in 1896 and his wife in 1904, he harbored deep bitterness and turned to writing as a way to convey his feelings. Consequently, he penned a book titled The Mysterious Stranger.
In his later years, Twain reduced his writing activities and became more involved in public events. He spent the last three years of his life completing his autobiography, which recounted stories from his life as well as the tragic loss of his wife and daughter. After finishing the book on April 10, 1910, Twain took a moment to look through one of his books before peacefully passing away that evening with his doctor by his side. His writing stands as the sole enduring testament to commemorate his existence in the world.
Samuel Clemens, who is also known as Mark Twain, remains cherished by readers around the globe.
Works Cited
Edwards, William. The life of Mark Twain. 1999 http://www.midkan.cm/salinasouth/twain/mark/bio.htm.
Jones, Marvy. Famous Authors From The 18th Century. St Louis, MO: Randler Publishing, 1984
Killingsworth, Jacob. Research Paper Online. 1999 http://www.yahoo.search.mark+twain.com.
Lewis, Julie. The Life of Mark Twain. New York, NY: River House
