America’s Author: Mark Twain via The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Puddn’Head Wilson

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Samuel Langhorne Clemens, mainly known as Mark Twain, was an American autho who shaped the country through his literary works. Twain’s childhood influenced his best works by giving him great stories and the right experience. His early life was key in developing his writing. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was shaped by his early experiences. Huck and Jim’s adventure illustrates the irony of the “peculiar institution” in the South. Ten years later, Twain wrote Puddn’Head Wilson, which further explored slavery. Mark Twain’s early life paved the way for his future success and influenced his best works, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Puddn’Head Wilson.
Childhood
Samuel Langhorne Clemens was born on November 30, 1835 in Florida, Missouri. Missouri was a slave state at the time because of the Missouri Compromise in 1820. Thus, Twain had a Southern experience with slaves. At the age of 12, Twain learned the trade of printing and typesetting (Fredericks). Intrigued by the crafts, he decided to learn more. Orion, Twain’s older brother, owned several newspapers, so Twain took the chance to work for him ("Mark Twain"). Working with Orion, he learned every single aspect of the trade. He even submitted small sketches to notable magazines. This was the start of Twain’s journey as a writer.
After engaging in several failed business ventures, Twain moved West to find new work. At the same time, he sent small sketches to Orion. In his journey West, Twain stumbled upon the Mississippi River. Horace Bixby taught him every corner of the 2,000 mile long river. Bixby not only taught him piloting a steamboat, but he also shared many superstitions that can be found in Twain’s works (Fredericks). In 1859, Twain received his riverboat license....

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...rah. “The Profane Twain: his personal and literary cursing.” Mark Twain Journal
49. 1-2 (2011): 35+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 28 Apr. 2014. .
Klauza, Matthew D. “Mark Twain, homesickness, and Hannibal.” Mark Twain Journal 48. 1-2
(2010): 49+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 28 Apr. 2014. .
"Mark Twain." Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale, 2013. Literature Resource Center.
Web. 27 April 2014. .
Twain, Mark. The Autobiography of Mark Twain. Comp. Charles Neider. New York: Harper &
Row, 1959. Print.
Valkeakari, Tuire. "Huck, Twain, and the Freedman's Shackles: Struggling with Huckleberry Finn Today." Atlantis, revista de la Asociación Española de Estudios Anglo- Norteamericanos 28.2 (2006): 29+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 21 May 2014. .

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