Mark Twain

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known by his pen name Mark Twain. He adopted the pseudonym from a riverboat term meaning "two fathoms deep" (safe water for navigation), which he first used in 1863 while working as a newspaper reporter in Nevada.

Mark Twain's professional writing career began at the Territorial Enterprise in Virginia City, Nevada, one of the most influential newspapers in the West.

Mark Twain's first major novel established him as a writer of national importance and created one of American literature's most enduring characters.

Beyond their public achievements, Mark Twain's personal life reveals a complex and multifaceted individual whose private experiences have shaped their public persona.

Mark Twain's relationships with contemporaries provide insight into the social and intellectual networks that shaped their era. These connections influenced their work and legacy.