Mark Twain
Mark Twain (1835-1910) was one of the most popular writers in United States history, beginning in the 19th century. He began his career as a journalist, but his wry and intellectual perspective on the times in which he lived provided a social commentary that still resonates today. He was also a master of dialect and sometimes incorporated rough vocabulary and strong regional accents to realistically illustrate the ludicrousness of how some people communicated.
While his best-known books are The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, we suggest that The Prince and the Pauper and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court not be overlooked.
You can find many of his books at gutenberg.org by searching its catalog by author — under “T” for Twain, as opposed to his given name of Samuel Clemens.
The House
The Mark Twain House in the town of Hartford has it all – the house, the history, the museum and the store, all honoring the author who has long been a national favorite.
We liked the face cut-outs for photo poses at the entry, the riverboat pencil sharpener and chocolates in the gift shop, the films about the author, and the exhibits. (As an example, when we were there, they were displaying Norman Rockwell’s art that tied in with Mark Twain novels.)
The Twains bought the house for their family after the author became financially successful. It is next-door to the house of Harriet Beecher Stowe, which is also open to the public. Read about it here: https://authoradventures.org/trails/by-state/connecticut/stowe-harriet-beecher.
Learn more about Mark Twain by visiting his Missouri and Nevada pages.
The Mark Twain House is our Connecticut Author Adventures Trail‘s third stop.
Patricia Smart
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