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The Early Years 1835-1871: Mark Twain and His Circle

W. Somerset Maugham

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Published in The Life Of Mark Twain: The Early Years 1835 1871 (Mark Twain And His Circle 1)

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Mark Twain was born Samuel Clemens on November 30, 1835, in the small town of Florida, Missouri. His father, John Marshall Clemens, was a lawyer and judge. His mother, Jane Lampton Clemens, was a devout Christian. Twain had three older brothers and one younger sister.

Twain's family moved to Hannibal, Missouri, when he was four years old. Hannibal was a bustling river town on the Mississippi River. Twain's father died when he was eleven years old, and his mother was forced to take in boarders to make ends meet. Twain and his siblings often had to work to help support the family.

The Life of Mark Twain: The Early Years 1835 1871 (Mark Twain and His Circle 1)

The Life of Mark Twain: The Early Years, 1835-1871 (Mark Twain and His Circle Book 1)

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6257 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	719 pages

Twain began his writing career as a teenager. He wrote for his brother's newspaper, the Hannibal Journal, and he also published several short stories in local newspapers. In 1857, Twain left Hannibal to work as a printer's apprentice in St. Louis. He later worked as a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River.

In 1861, the Civil War broke out. Twain briefly served in the Confederate Army, but he soon deserted and moved to Nevada. He worked as a miner and a journalist in Nevada, and he also began writing his first novel, The Gilded Age.

In 1867, Twain moved to San Francisco. He worked as a journalist and a lecturer, and he also continued to write. In 1869, he published his first successful novel, The Innocents Abroad. The novel was a huge success, and it made Twain a famous author.

In 1870, Twain married Olivia Langdon. The couple had four children. Twain continued to write and lecture throughout the 1870s. He published several more novels, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884).

Twain's early years were full of challenges. He lost his father at a young age, and he had to work to help support his family. However, he also developed a love of writing during his early years. This love of writing would eventually lead him to become one of the most famous and influential American authors of all time.

Twain's Circle

Twain was a member of a circle of writers and artists who lived in Hartford, Connecticut, in the 1870s and 1880s. This circle included Harriet Beecher Stowe, Charles Dudley Warner, and William Dean Howells. Twain's circle of friends was a source of support and inspiration for him.

Harriet Beecher Stowe was a famous author who wrote the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin. Stowe was a close friend of Twain's, and she often gave him advice on his writing. Charles Dudley Warner was a journalist and editor who was also a close friend of Twain's. Warner helped Twain to edit and publish his work.

William Dean Howells was a novelist and critic who was one of the most influential literary figures of his time. Howells was a great admirer of Twain's work, and he helped to promote Twain's career.

Twain's circle of friends was a major influence on his life and work. These friends provided Twain with support, inspiration, and advice. Twain's circle of friends also helped to shape Twain's literary style and worldview.

Mark Twain's early years were full of challenges and adventures. He lost his father at a young age, and he had to work to help support his family. However, he also developed a love of writing during his early years. This love of writing would eventually lead him to become one of the most famous and influential American authors of all time.

The Life of Mark Twain: The Early Years, 1835-1871 (Mark Twain and His Circle Book 1)

4.8 out of 5