Mark Twain

Mark Twain is one of the most famous American writers ever. His real name was Samuel Clemens, and he was born in Missouri in 1835. He wrote funny, exciting stories about life along the Mississippi River. His most famous books are The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Twain was also known for his clever jokes and wise sayings. People called him the father of American literature.

Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer tells the story of a clever boy who gets into all kinds of trouble in a small town by the Mississippi River. Tom tricks his friends into painting a fence for him. He explores caves and hunts for treasure. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn follows Tom's friend Huck on a raft trip down the Mississippi. These books capture what life was like in America in the 1800s.

A Life Full of Stories

Before becoming a writer, Twain worked as a printer, a riverboat pilot, and a gold miner. His pen name, Mark Twain, comes from a riverboat term meaning two fathoms deep, or safe water. He traveled all over the world and wrote about his adventures. Twain was also a famous speaker who made audiences laugh. His books are still read and loved by kids and adults more than 100 years after they were written.

Fun Facts

• Mark Twain's real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens. Mark Twain was just his pen name.
• The name Mark Twain comes from a riverboat call meaning the water is twelve feet deep and safe to travel.
• Twain was born in 1835 when Halley's Comet appeared, and he died in 1910 when it appeared again.

Did You Know?

Mark Twain predicted that he would die when Halley's Comet returned, and he was right. He was born the year it appeared and died the very next time it came back, 75 years later!