Mark Twain: America's Humorist, Dreamer, Prophet

by Clinton Cox

The author of Undying Glory provides middle readers with a comprehensive biography about this celebrated American writer who was also a riverboat pilot, adventurer, and newspaper reporter. Reprint.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

233 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an ok book. It wasn't really interesting and sped up towards the end of the book. I would not recommend.

[Anna Piphany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book about Twains life and conflicting positions, he came up as a writer from boldly criticising politicians and elites in newspaper columns. He travelled around and began to see the pitfalls of capitalism, he denounced imperialism and exposed the doublespeak and lies it peddled.

He had horrific dreams near the end of his life about violence and poverty, race and class, leading him to write “the war prayer” which attacked American patriotism and passive idolitary/acceptance of the government and status quo.

“I have told the truth in that” he said when “the war prayer” was written “and only dead men can tell the truth in this world, it can be published after I am dead”

King Leopolds Soliloquy was about Leopold II of Belgium who ran a slave driving empire out of a million square miles of African land which he stole, written because American financiers had completed the process to begin sharing in the exploitation in the Congo. No magazine would publish it in America.

Mark Twain had a lot of anger and denounced racism unethical business, blind patriotism and exploitation (but only after he did a bit of it all himself).

He said his works were his sermons, and they would have been the same with or without the jokes, they were not written for the sake of humour- rather doused with it.

[Madison Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark Twain: A Biography is a fascinating story about one of history’s most eccentric and creative authors. Samuel Clemens, or Mark Twain as he is more commonly known, grew up “amid the overwhelming contradictions of the aftermath of the Civil War” (book jacket). He was the son of a slave-owner, but as he got older he wrote the “most powerful anti-slavery literature of his day” (book jacket). Twain’s works were just as renowned and famous as they are today; and they include: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Prince and the Pauper, and many others. Twain’s stories will forever be timeless, and will continue to make us laugh and teach us ourselves and the world around us.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riverboat pilot, newspaper reporter, adventurer satirist, and writer Mark Twain is a towering figure in American Literature. Twain's life was full of contradictions; The son of a slave owner, he wrote some of the most powerful antislavery literature of his day. He hated capitalism, but he married an heiress and longed to be rich himself. He always believed laughter was the "one really effective weapon mankind possessed int he struggle against justice."
Great book--lots of photos of both family and friends. Lots of quotes, letters, and journal entries.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came across this book at a Good Will Store.. Very detailed about Mark Twain. Was very interesting and I enjoyed it

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read. I learned a lot. Not a lot of fluff where it was a pain to work through like most biographies I've tried recently.

[Jacinda EVHS Chen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt this book did a great job at explaining why Sam Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, was so controversial. He hated slavery yet had a slave at a point in his life. Also, I felt it was really endearing the way Cox illustrated how Mark Twain first met Olivia, his wife. The story goes that Twain was on a boat when Charley showed him a picture of his older sister. Twain fell in love immediately and from then on, constantly pestered Charley to show him her picture. He had to propose many times until Olivia finally said yes.

[Randy Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clearly this little introduction to the life of Mark Twain was written for what I would guess to be maybe high school level readers. That is to not take away from the job Clinton Cox did here in writing a concise, clear and engaging book which is something that is always welcome and not always an easy thing to do. Cox has done an excellent job of picking just the right quote here, just the right abridgment of more complicated parts of Twain’s life there to keep the story moving and not leaving the reader feeling short changed. Thoroughly enjoyable all around.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite thing about this book is that it's a step up from most children's biographies but still a step down from complex adult ones. This makes for an interesting and informative read for whoever has the good fortune of picking it up. Well-researched with black and white pictures of Mark Twain throughout his life, it also contains funny anecdotes and witting sayings of Twain sprinkled throughout the whole thing. Definitely a good read.

[Abdullah Sendi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mark Twain was a great man, he almost worked everything he could do in his town and outside his town. He was a successful in his life. He was born for writing. I recommend reading this book to know more about Mark Twain's life.

[Adaline Griffiths · Rating 2 out of 5]

This biography about Mark Twain was not very interesting to be. Unlike other biography's, this book didn't really stand out, or tell the special story of a person. Instead, it seemed to me to be mostly facts, dates, and events. I would not recommend this book. I rate this book 2 out of 5 stars.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book. This book is somethingn that will stay in my family since I am related to him. If you want to read a good book about his life I would say to look into this one.

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has turned me into a great admirer of Twain. Wish I could have known him!

[Carolyn Dorstek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clear, easy to read, I need to read more of his writings!

[Deborah Harris]

AR Quiz No. 34987 EN Nonfiction
Accelerated Reader Quiz Information IL: MG - BL: 8.0 - AR Pts: 7.0
Accelerated Reader Quiz Type Information AR Quiz Types: RP

[Brenda Lysak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprised with the dark side of Mark Twain, how restless, and unbelieving he was. Inspired with his creative style.