For more than a century, the beloved, comedic writings of Mark Twain have entertained and enlightened the nation. From an early essay detailing his travels to the Sandwich Islands (now Hawai’i) to pieces such as Adventures of Huckleberry Finn—widely considered one of the greatest novels in American literature—Twain’s work remains as important to American culture and thought-provoking today as when he wrote it. (Just take a look at Google’s way of celebrating his 176th birthday.)
Born on this day in 1835 as Samuel Langhorne Clemens shortly after Halley’s Comet made its periodic reappearance, Mark Twain spent time as a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River as a young man, which shaped many of his experiences later in life and gave him the name under which he would become famous. Steamboats needed about 12 feet of water—two fathom or “mark twain”—to float safely.
From there, Twain established his reputation as a literary troublemaker. In 1867, he shot to national fame with a widely reprinted comic tale—known today as “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”—about a man who cleverly rigs a contest between two frogs. Huckleberry Finn, Twain’s favorite of his books, was seen as controversial at the time of publication in 1884 (and still is) for turning the paradigm of Southern racism on its head.
In June, the Postal Service issued a Mark Twain stamp, as part of the Literary Arts series, celebrating the satirical writer’s life and body of work. In addition to the collectible stamp, a commemorative book was created, with memorable quotes from five of his greatest works, original illustrations by Mick Wiggins, and a partial bibliography. The book also includes four of the Mark Twain stamps featuring artwork by Gregory Manchess.
The book and the stamps are both still available for purchase. Whether you’re a fan of Twain’s enduring American voice, colorful stories, or simply a lover of the arts, this book, with it’s unique design and beautiful images, will be a wonderful addition to any collection. It’d make a great gift, too!
