Mark Twain became famous later in his life, a sarcastic American icon in a white suit and a love for cigars, author of such timeless classics as Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. He lived during an epic turning point in American Literature, during the Realistic period. He changed the course of literature and according to Ernest Hemingway, is said to have been the author of the first American book. Known in his day for speaking at conventions, writing travel articles, and such sayings as: “Be good and you will be lonesome”, or “Man is the only animal who blushes, or needs to” (Fleischman 4) He came far in his life, from a barefoot Missouri farm boy to one of the greatest wits and household names America has produced. Mark Twain was born Samuel
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A long title for a seed-spitting, dead-cat-holding, superstitious book full of fun and tiny jabs of truth, Mark Twain became a household name. The plot seemed to trouble Twain, as he set work aside on this manuscript many times over the years. He wove together a wild, hair-raising tale that seemed to have no story goal, no niceties of inciting incidents, rising and falling conflict. It just was. And that seemed to be enough when it came to Huck Finn. The most impressive part of Huck Finn is the characteristic voice. Today, dialect is far more common in books, but Huck Finn still comes as a surprise to the modern reader. It’s easy to get tangled up in the drawls and mutilated syllables, but the flavor of Twain’s masterpiece comes easily when the book is read aloud. Capturing such characters of Twain’s youth… ‘Uncle Dan’l’, a black slave that young Sammy Clemens knew, was reworked as Jim. Boys from Twain’s youth, including himself, were mashed together and made into an irreverent protagonist under the name of Huckleberry. Mark Twain, earlier in his life, had been ashamed of his ridgerunning background, and made a point of trying to found himself a place in Eastern society. He apparently became comfortable enough in his own skin to …show more content…
He had a luxurious home in Connecticut, and he had found the sweetheart of his dreams: Olivia Langdon. Despite suspiciously colorful tales that Twain spun regarding their eventual engagement, they were married and had four children. Three daughters: Clara, Susy, Jean, and their son Langdon. Only Clara would outlive Twain, and Langdon died as an infant. After the death of his wife and their children, Twain’s life became more and more bitter. A man who had always subscribed to the idea that ‘more than one cigar at a time is excessive smoking’, began to smoke more than ever, drink, and play billiards. All things he had done in the past, his private life changed drastically. He became sharp and bitter, though he still tried to present an amiable authorial front to the public that had adored him for so long. Strangely enough, his lifelong prediction that he would not die until Halley’s Comet streaked past the earth came true. Twain lived until April 21st, 1910. He died just as the comet reached the point where it was closest to earth, and slinging out toward reaches
A long title for a seed-spitting, dead-cat-holding, superstitious book full of fun and tiny jabs of truth, Mark Twain became a household name. The plot seemed to trouble Twain, as he set work aside on this manuscript many times over the years. He wove together a wild, hair-raising tale that seemed to have no story goal, no niceties of inciting incidents, rising and falling conflict. It just was. And that seemed to be enough when it came to Huck Finn. The most impressive part of Huck Finn is the characteristic voice. Today, dialect is far more common in books, but Huck Finn still comes as a surprise to the modern reader. It’s easy to get tangled up in the drawls and mutilated syllables, but the flavor of Twain’s masterpiece comes easily when the book is read aloud. Capturing such characters of Twain’s youth… ‘Uncle Dan’l’, a black slave that young Sammy Clemens knew, was reworked as Jim. Boys from Twain’s youth, including himself, were mashed together and made into an irreverent protagonist under the name of Huckleberry. Mark Twain, earlier in his life, had been ashamed of his ridgerunning background, and made a point of trying to found himself a place in Eastern society. He apparently became comfortable enough in his own skin to …show more content…
He had a luxurious home in Connecticut, and he had found the sweetheart of his dreams: Olivia Langdon. Despite suspiciously colorful tales that Twain spun regarding their eventual engagement, they were married and had four children. Three daughters: Clara, Susy, Jean, and their son Langdon. Only Clara would outlive Twain, and Langdon died as an infant. After the death of his wife and their children, Twain’s life became more and more bitter. A man who had always subscribed to the idea that ‘more than one cigar at a time is excessive smoking’, began to smoke more than ever, drink, and play billiards. All things he had done in the past, his private life changed drastically. He became sharp and bitter, though he still tried to present an amiable authorial front to the public that had adored him for so long. Strangely enough, his lifelong prediction that he would not die until Halley’s Comet streaked past the earth came true. Twain lived until April 21st, 1910. He died just as the comet reached the point where it was closest to earth, and slinging out toward reaches