Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Ron Chernow tells the complete story of Mark Twain — the man behind the pen name.
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Mark Twain was born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in 1835, the year Halley’s Comet appeared.
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He grew up in Missouri and developed a taste for storytelling early in life.
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As a young man, he worked as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River.
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He later traveled to the Nevada Territory during the silver-mining rush.
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In Nevada, he joined a local newspaper known for bold debates, hoaxes, and satire.
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He soon moved to San Francisco, where his sharp and humorous writing gained national attention.
Ron Chernow, known for his biographies of Alexander Hamilton, George Washington, and Ulysses S. Grant, now turns his focus to America’s first literary celebrity.
This biography:
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Traces Twain’s journey from a Missouri boy to a world-famous author.
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Shows how his wit, honesty, and storytelling shaped American literature.
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Brings to light the contradictions in his life — from humor to hardship.
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Captures the energy of an author who challenged social norms.
What can you learn from Twain’s life?
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That travel, risk, and curiosity can shape your voice.
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That success often comes from persistence in the face of failure.
Chernow’s work gives you a closer look at a writer who still speaks to readers worldwide.
