Mark Twain Collected editions

Mark Twain (1835 – 1910) was the pen name of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, an American writer whose wit, keen observation, and storytelling genius earned him the title “the father of American literature.” Born along the Mississippi River in Missouri, Twain drew upon his boyhood experiences and travels to craft tales that blended humor, satire, and social commentary.

His best-known works — The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Prince and the Pauper, and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court — remain touchstones of American culture, celebrated for their vivid characters, colloquial voice, and fearless engagement with the moral questions of his time.

Beyond fiction, Twain was a prolific lecturer and travel writer, chronicling journeys across America and abroad with the same wry perspective that defined his novels. A master of both comedy and critique, he captured the contradictions of the American spirit with a voice that still rings true today.