MARK TWAIN (1835-1910)

•Born Samuel Clemens in Florida, Missouri in a slave owning family.

•Family later moved to river town of Hannibal.

•Apprenticed as river boat pilot.

•Began using pseudonym Mark Twain (meaning two fathoms) when writing political reports as journalist for a Virginian newspaper.

Twain’s celebrity image—Associated with river boat and frontier myth.

Iconic image of Twain as adventurer.

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ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN First published in 1885.

Commonly named among the Great American Novels, the work is among the first in major American literature to be written in the vernacular.

Satirizing a Southern society, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is, among other things, an often critical look at deep-rooted attitudes, particularly racism.

Main themes

racial prejudice and segregation

rite of passage from childhood to adulthood.

Very controversial and highly censored because of the racial implications dealt with in the book.

Mark Twain based his character Huckleberry Finn on his childhood friends.

HUCK IN THE MOVIES

IN 1920 In 1993

I have no race prejudices, and I think I have no color prejudices or caste prejudices nor creed prejudices. Indeed I know it. I can stand any society. All that I care to know is that a man is a human being--that is enough for me; he can't be any worse.

“Huckleberry Finn is the best book we’ve ever had. There was nothing better. There’s been nothing as good since”

Ernest Hemmingway

Watch the 1993 movie trailer and a clip from the same film.