Mark Twain!: A Deep Dive!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece of Advice Newsletter!

Good morning! Today we are taking a deep dive into one of the most famous Americans to ever live, Mark Twain! We even got to speak with museum curator Meagan Garey from the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum!

Mark Twain, born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in 1835, remains one of America’s most treasured literary voices. Growing up in the river town of Hannibal, Missouri, Twain was shaped by the rhythms of the Mississippi River, which would become a backdrop for some of his most iconic stories. Before he was a writer, Twain worked as a printer, journalist, and even a steamboat pilot; experiences that deeply influenced his storytelling style and gave him a firsthand view of 19th-century American life. His pen name, “Mark Twain,” was actually a riverboat term meaning safe water depth; an early hint at the humor and cleverness that would come to define him.

Twain’s books blended humor, adventure, and social commentary in a way that felt fresh and relatable to readers of all ages. His 1876 novel “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” introduced readers to a mischievous but lovable boy in a small town that mirrored his own childhood. But it was “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, published in 1885, that truly cemented his place in literary history. Often called “the Great American Novel,” Huck Finn tackled issues of race, identity, and freedom with sharp wit and unflinching honesty—sparking both praise and controversy that continues to this day.

Known for his wild hair, white suits, and razor-sharp tongue, Twain was as much a public figure as he was a writer. He was a world traveler, an in-demand speaker, and a vocal critic of politics, imperialism, and hypocrisy. His personal life, marked by both tremendous success and painful losses, gave him a perspective that made his work feel deeply human. Twain could make people laugh out loud, then suddenly stop them in their tracks with a profound truth about society or the human condition.

Today, Twain’s legacy lives on not only through his books but also in his hometown of Hannibal, where the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum draws visitors from around the world. The museum preserves his childhood home and showcases artifacts from his life and work, offering a deeper look into the man behind the wit. More than a century after his passing, Twain’s voice still resonates; inviting us to laugh, to think, and to see America through the eyes of one of its most insightful observers.

Questions for Meagan Garey of The Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum:

Giancarlo: Is it true that Mark Twain craved attention?

Meagan: It's hard to answer this one fully without being able to ask Twain himself. I think it varied. He seems to have enjoyed doing shows and readings from his works all over the world; they would have been similar to stand-up comedy routines today. However, there are also stories that indicate he could get overwhelmed at parties and in large groups. 

Giancarlo: How do you think Mark Twain wanted to be remembered?

Meagan: "I was sorry to have my name mentioned as one of the great authors, because they have a sad habit of dying off. Chaucer is dead, Spencer is dead, so is Milton, so is Shakespeare, and I’m not feeling so well myself." Mark Twain finished up his Autobiography towards the end of his life, and it was published posthumously. I think reading that is probably the best way to see what he thought was important and how he wanted to be remembered. 

Giancarlo: What is something most people don’t know about Twain until they visit the museum?

Meagan: I think it surprises people to learn how many of his characters were based on real people. Just across the street from him was Laura Hawkins, the model for Becky Thatcher. Around the corner was Tom Blankenship, the inspiration for Huckleberry Finn. His brother Henry became Sid, his mother became Aunt Polly, and Tom Sawyer himself is an amalgamation of a lot of the boys young Mark Twain used to play with. The real people and the real places that inspired such classic fictional stories can be really powerful.

Giancarlo: Is it known at all which of his own works he favorited?

Meagan: His favorite of his books was “Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc”. He had an interest in learning about Joan since he was a child and was able to do a lot of research on her life when he was in Europe. He based Joan's personality on his eldest daughter Susie and the story was published just shortly before she passed away at only 24 years old.

Giancarlo: Why do you think his work is still relevant today?

Meagan: I think Mark Twain had a talent for getting to the truth of things. His quotes are still relevant over 100 years later because the things he said about money, success, racism, family, and politics are still true. 

You can check out more about the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum here!: https://marktwainmuseum.org/

Thank you for reading! Have an amazing day and we will catch you again on Monday!

-Giancarlo