1. MARK TWAIN • Born November 30, 1835 • Died April 21, 1910 (aged 74)

2. Early life • Born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in Hannibal, Missouri (1835). • In March 1847, when Twain was 11, his father died of pneumonia.The next year, he became a printer's apprentice

3. As a young man… • At 22, Twain returned to Missouri. • On a voyage to New Orleans down the Mississippi, the steamboat pilot, Horace E. Bixby, inspired Twain to pursue a career as a steamboat pilot; it was a richly rewarding occupation with wages set at $250 per month, roughly equivalent to $155,000 a year today.

4. Masterpieces are born • “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” • “Life on the Mississippi” • “Roughing it” • Tom Sawyer • Huckleberry Finn

5. On June 8, 1867, Twain set sail on the pleasure cruiser Quaker City for five months. This trip resulted in The Innocents Abroad or The New Pilgrims' Progress.“ This book is a record of a pleasure trip… it has a purpose, which is, to suggest to the reader how he would be likely to see Europe and the East if he looked at them with his own eyes instead of the eyes of those who traveled in those countries before him. I make small pretense of showing anyone how he ought to look at objects of interest beyond the sea – other books do that, and therefore, even if I were competent to do it, there is no need.

6. Best known example of a Regional writer Satirist (USES HUMOR…) Used dialect in his work (colloquial speech) His name comes from his days as a river pilot. It is a term which means two fathoms (12 ft) when the depth of water for a boat is being sounded. "Mark twain" means that is safe to navigate.

7. Gold prospector in West • • Soldier with Confederate army • • Became bitter in his later life after a series of tragedies • Born in Missouri • Settings influenced by his residences: West, midwest, and Connecticut • “All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn.” - Ernest Hemingway

8. He was known for his humor aimed at technology, politicians, and other people. He wrote in common American language His heroes were often dirt-poor and uneducated Some say, “All American literature begins with Twain” What is special about him?