Happy Birthday, Mark Twain!

Today marks the 188th birthday of one of the most beloved and influential writers in American history, Samuel Langhorne Clemens, historically better known as Mark Twain. Born on November 30, 1835, in Florida, Missouri, Clemens grew up in the town of Hannibal, which later became the setting for his famous novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain had a colorful and adventurous life, working as a printer, a riverboat pilot, a miner, a journalist, a lecturer, and a publisher. He also traveled extensively around the world, writing about his experiences and observations in books such as The Innocents Abroad, A Tramp Abroad, and Following the Equator.

To Clemens, Mark Twain was a fictitious character, and he much preferred to be addressed by his given name rather than his pseudonym. Nonetheless, Twain is widely regarded as the Father of American Literature and the greatest humorist the United States has produced. His works are known for their realism, satire, wit, and social criticism, as well as their memorable characters and dialogue. He was also a friend to presidents, artists, industrialists, and royalty, and a vocal opponent of imperialism, racism, and slavery. He died on April 21, 1910, at the age of 74, leaving behind a legacy of literary masterpieces and cultural icons.

Twain’s best-known books include The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876), the classic story of a young boy growing up in a small town on the Mississippi River, getting into mischief, falling in love, and witnessing a murder; and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884): The sequel to Tom Sawyer, and often considered the Great American Novel, this book follows the journey of Huck Finn, a runaway slave named Jim, and their raft down the Mississippi River, as they encounter various characters and situations that reflect the social and moral issues of the time.

His other works include A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (1889). A satire of medieval romance and chivalry, this book tells the story of a 19th-century American engineer who is transported to sixth-century England, where he uses his modern knowledge and skills to become a powerful figure in King Arthur’s court; Pudd’nhead Wilson (1894); a tragicomedy that explores the themes of identity, race, and slavery, this book revolves around two boys who are switched at birth, one white and one black, and the consequences of their lives as they grow up in a small town in Missouri; and The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today (1873), co-written with Charles Dudley Warner, a satire of the political and social corruption of the post-Civil War era, as well as a realistic portrayal of the rise of industrialization and urbanization in America.

Twain’s nom de plume comes from his days as a riverboat pilot when he would measure the depth of the water by calling out “mark twain”, meaning two fathoms (12 feet). It is historically notable that he was born two weeks after Halley’s Comet appeared in 1835, and predicted that he would “go out with it” in 1910. True to his word, Clemens died the day after the comet returned, leaving behind a rich heritage of literature and invention. He held several patents, including one for an elastic-clasp brassiere strap, one for a self-pasting scrapbook, and one for a history trivia game.

As an author, he was an early adopter of new technologies, such as the typewriter, the telephone, and the phonograph. He was also one of the first authors to dictate his books to a stenographer, rather than writing them by hand.

Twain had a lifelong fascination with cats and owned several of them throughout his life. He once said, “When a man loves cats, I am his friend and comrade, without further introduction.”

Happy birthday, Mark Twain, and thank you for your contributions to literature and culture!