The Early Years
Samuel Clemens, more famously known by his pen name, Mark Twain, was born in 1835 in Florida, Missouri. He had a turbulent upbringing, with shifts of fortune often thrusting his family between poverty and some affluence. Twain eventually became a steamboat pilot in 1857, riding the Mississippi River for two and a half years. During his years as a pilot, Twain penned a – now famous – travel story, Innocents Abroad, in 1869.
The story marked the start of the writer’s expanding fame. In 1876, he completed the manuscript of Tom Sawyer, an adventure-packed novel that still evokes nostalgia and nostalgia-like emotions even today.
Twain took part in a lecture tour shortly thereafter, organized by the Authors’ Reading Bureau, along with other famed authors such as Oliver Wendell Holmes, Charles Dudley Warner and Walt Whitman.
The Adventurer
Throughout his life, Twain was a world traveler and an adventurer, engaging in activities few began to care about. He was an avid globe-trotter: a visitor of Europe, an avid boater and a vigorous supporter of human rights – a fact not often spoken about.
Twain wrote about his travels in Innocents Abroad, The Innocents at Home, Following the Equator and other books. He believed reform was important, and didn’t shy from speaking out against wrongs such as slavery and imperialism. He also promoted education and intellectualism, granted scholarships and even founded a school.
Throughout his life, Twain was also a businessman and a prolific investor, starting his own publishing house in the late 1800s. After his publication business went bankrupt, he published The Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Wilson in 1894. The money he made from that book enabled Twain to pay off his considerable debts and continue to fund his travels and adventures.
A Different Voice
Twain was a writer nonpareil, with a distinct voice that has its peculiar tone and approach, presenting problems and characters in unique ways. His stories have a moral core that is found in more modern writing such as the works of Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner and J.D. Salinger.
In many of his works Twain wrote about the characters of his early life. His stories often featured the people that raised him, such as smalltowners, ole’ boys, and even slaves, treating them as fully realized characters with depth and humanity.
Twain also spoke out with a biting irony and sarcasm; maintaining his critique of society in a format even young readers could enjoy. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, an often-censored novel, is Twain’s most infamous work for these exact qualities.
Legacy and Influence
With some of his most famous works being banned in many countries, Twain’s voice has never been dulled and his works are still seen as relevant today. His works, thanks to their observational acuity, multiple layers and adept use of irony, are studied in many classrooms and remain accessible to new generations of readers.
Twain was also a prolific writer and commentator, and his quotes remain applicable to this day, perhaps even more applicable than anything when they were written. Despite the controversies surrounding his most famous works, Twain stands as one of the greatest American writers, having more influence than many others in literature both in North and South America.
One of America’s great spirits, Twain is still considered not just an author, but a trailblazing statesman whose lessons and wisdom remain relevant even in today’s ever-shifting world.
Advocate for Human Rights
Mark Twain was also an ardent advocate for human rights, a fact that has only been discovered in more recent years. As a man of literature and respect, Twain had long-lasting moral and influential capacities. He spoke out against racism and slavery and was unwavering in his commitment to helping those in need. Twain was an advocate of education and worked to empower those in need through his philanthropy.
Twain spent some time living in Vienna, where he befriended a Jewish family that was being persecuted by the Austrian government. He tirelessly worked to support this family from then on, continuing his work in other areas in the world where there were political or social poverty.
Twains anti-imperialism was evident in his political criticisms during the Spanish-American War, in which he wrote several articles denouncing the intervention of the United States in other countries affairs.
Twain used his fame in a pro-humanitarian way, speaking against injustices in the world and bringing attention to causes that needed to be addressed. Through his work, Twain stands as one of the greatest humanitarians of the last century.
Writer and Social Critic
Mark Twain was also known as an intellect and a sharp-tongued social critic. Twain was well-known for his wit and sought after by politicians and the literati alike because of his keen insight. Twain was invited to speak at countless events, including the Tercentenary of William Shakespeare’s death in Stratford-upon-Avon. In addition to his literary works, he also wrote a number of political articles that remain relevant to this day.
Twain considered himself an American patriot and never hesitated to criticize or offer his opinion about the state of affairs in America. He was often critical of the wealthy and powerful, an attitude that was shared by many of his contemporaries as well.
Twain was an advocate and a colorful writer whose works were often controversial and thought-provoking because of the insights contained within. He wrote about social issues, race relations, imperialism, politics and religion in ways that made the reader think and come to their own conclusions. More often than not, Twain’s critiques were not the popular ones and he is remembered for his courage, tenacity and wit.
He often expressed original and smart opinions in his writings and essays, making him one of the most influential writers in America at the time. His writings remain relevant and have had great impact on modern literature and thought.
