Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) was a Missouri-born author whose pen name came from Mississippi riverboat jargon. His major works include The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884-85). Huck Finn combines regional detail with a critique of racism and has provoked enduring debate about how to read and teach classic literature. Twain died in Redding, Connecticut, in 1910; his humor and social criticism remain influential.

Who he was

Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835-April 21, 1910) wrote under the pen name Mark Twain. He was born in Florida, Missouri, and moved with his family to Hannibal, Missouri, when he was four. The river town shaped much of his imagination and later provided the setting for two of his best-known novels.

Why "Mark Twain"?

The name Mark Twain comes from riverboat terminology on the Mississippi: a measured depth of two fathoms (12 feet), considered safe water for a steamboat. Clemens adopted it as his professional byline while working as a river pilot.

Two lasting novels

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876)

This novel traces the mischief and small-town adventures of Tom Sawyer in the fictional St. Petersburg, Missouri. It captures childhood games, a famous fence-whitewashing episode, and Tom's relationship with Becky Thatcher.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884-1885)

Published in the United Kingdom in 1884 and in the United States in 1885, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn follows Huck and Jim, an escaped enslaved man, as they travel down the Mississippi River. The novel pairs vivid regional detail with a critical look at the racism and moral contradictions of its era. It remains central to discussions about race, censorship, and how to teach classic literature.

Ernest Hemingway famously wrote that "All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn."

Selected bibliography (not complete)

  • The Innocents Abroad (1869)
  • Roughing It (1872)
  • The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today (1873, with Charles Dudley Warner)
  • The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876)
  • Life on the Mississippi (1883)
  • Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884-85)
  • A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1889)
  • Pudd'nhead Wilson (1894)
  • Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc (1896)
  • Following the Equator (1897)
  • The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg (1900)
  • Is Shakespeare Dead? (1909)

Legacy

Mark Twain died in Redding, Connecticut, on April 21, 1910. His blend of humor, local color, and social criticism shaped American fiction. Schools and universities around the world continue to assign his books; scholars and readers still debate how to balance historical context with present-day concerns about language and representation.

If you want a concise introduction, start with Tom Sawyer for its comic portrait of boyhood and Huckleberry Finn for its moral and social complexity.

  1. Verify the primary source and exact wording/context for the Ernest Hemingway quotation about Huckleberry Finn.
  2. Confirm publication details for Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (UK 1884, US 1885) if precise citation is required.

FAQs about Mark Twain Books

Who was Mark Twain?
Mark Twain was the pen name of Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910), an American author and humorist raised in Hannibal, Missouri, whose work drew on river life and small-town America.
Why did Clemens call himself Mark Twain?
He adopted the riverboat phrase "mark twain," meaning a depth of two fathoms (12 feet), a safe depth for steamboats on the Mississippi.
What are Mark Twain’s most important books?
Two of his most influential novels are The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884-85). He also wrote nonfiction and satire, including The Innocents Abroad and Life on the Mississippi.
Why is Huckleberry Finn controversial?
Huckleberry Finn uses period language and portrays racial attitudes of its time. Readers and educators debate how to handle its racial language and historical context in teaching.
When and where did Mark Twain die?
Samuel Clemens died on April 21, 1910, in Redding, Connecticut.

News about Mark Twain Books

Edward Short - In Search of Samuel Clemens - Literary Review [Visit Site | Read More]

Mark Twain by Ron Chernow review – the story of America’s first literary celebrity, from the author of Hamilton - The Guardian [Visit Site | Read More]

11 Great Books Written By Mark Twain - Forbes [Visit Site | Read More]

Book Review: “Mark Twain” — The Life of a Champion of Liberating Irreverence - The Arts Fuse [Visit Site | Read More]

Mark Twain - Humorist, Novelist, Satirist - Britannica [Visit Site | Read More]

Who was the real Mark Twain — fine fellow or racist bigot? - The Times [Visit Site | Read More]

How Ron Chernow’s biography of Mark Twain misses the mark - Prospect Magazine [Visit Site | Read More]