The Singular Mark Twain

Mr. Kaplan talked about his book, The Singular Mark Twain: A Biography, published by Doubleday. In the book, the author explores the life and legacy of American writer Mark Twain. He examines Twain’s childhood in Hannibal, Missouri; his life as a Mississippi steamboat pilot; and his travels. Mr. Kaplan chronicles the events and experiences that shaped and influenced Twain’s work as a humorist, chronicler, and commentator on American society. He depicts Mark Twain as the epitome of the late 19th century American because of certain traits, including an obsession with wealth, curiosity regarding invention, and a dual identity as a businessman and an intellectual. Mr. Kaplan argues that Mark Twain is singular because he both illustrated and impacted American culture, as his works, perceptions, and observations changed his readers' views of themselves and their country. close