Reports Of Mark Twain

And The Things He Said And Wrote.

The United States in the 1800s was a very different world from the one I am used to (late 20^th early 21^st Century western Europe); National Geographic tells me that slavery was abolished on December 18^th 1865, but of course civil rights then became a deservedly big issue. The reason I state this is because these events happened during the life of Mark Twain, an author most famous, at least in the UK, for the stories of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. As a child I remember there was a TV series of these stories broadcast over the school holidays in the mornings. I recall it was two lads, one who was always blamed for being a bad influence on the other, having adventures in the US from some point in the 1800s.

I vaguely watched them, and then I grew up and it all went to the back of my mind. References to Mark Twain mainly came when yet another person discovered the quote “The report of my death was an exaggeration” – when it was incorrectly stated he had died, and that was it.

One day I was flicking through the selection of cheap classics in a book shop and for a couple of Euro I picked up The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and memories of the kids programme came back. When I got round to reading it I realised it was the sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and so had to buy and read that one first (not that it’s vital for the plot, it’s just the way I think).

“The choir always tittered and whispered all through service. There was once a church choir that was not ill-bred, but I have forgotten where it was, now. It was a great many years ago, and I can scarcely remember anything about it, but I think it was in some foreign country.”
― Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Both books really do take you to this other world of 19^th Century Missouri, on the Mississippi River. In the first book each chapter is mostly a complete incident in itself, and the novel focuses on the young lad Tom Sawyer and the world from his view point as he makes friends with Huckleberry Finn. The sequel is somewhat different and has a lot to say about attitudes in that part of the US. Published in 1884 the story follows Huckelberry Finn as he tries to help a slave from the town where he lives escape. For various reasons, from the time it was written it has raised eyebrows. Today it can feel somewhat uncomfortable, as words I would never use come up regularly in the text as they were common place back then when even people who were not deliberately racist used them. It’s an awkward one as Twain seems to be going out of his way to say that slavery was wrong, but written when it was, with language and characterisation, it can not live up to the standards we have in the 21^st Century.

“I felt so lonesome I most wished I was dead. The stars were shining, and the leaves rustled in the woods ever so mournful; and I heard an owl, away off, who-whooing about somebody that was dead, and a whippowill and a dog crying about somebody that was going to die;”
― Mark Twain, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

It’s always sad to find some writer or other person from history that I like the work of was actually unpleasant; however by all accounts I can come across Mark Twain seemed to be a very nice and well meaning man; not only that he was quick witted and clever.

Indeed he, like only a few other people, have the honour of being incredibly quotable, you may have come across quotes of his and not realised it, although some are debated like my favourite “golf is a good walk spoiled”. Other than the obvious “Reports of my death-”, the below is a list of some more (in fact I got so distracted looking up quotes from him I almost didn’t finish the blog!):

“The man with a new idea is a crank until the idea succeeds.”

“There is no sadder thing than a young pessimist‚ except an old optimist.”

“Travel is fatal to prejudice.”

“No amount of evidence will ever persuade an idiot”

“Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience.”

“Worrying is like paying a debt you don’t owe.”

Born in Missouri in 1835 his real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens and he had a sad and tragic early life, only a couple of his siblings survived. Knowing of this hard background and the world in which he grew up in it’s even more impressive he became the man he did. In his novel The Innocents Abroad, where I get the feel of one of my other favourite authors Jerome K Jerome, he recounts a tour of Europe and “the holy land”. He and his friends are written with charm, innocence and mischief. For example when shown a mummy in a museum they ask “Is he dead?” and complain when they are informed he is. This is just one example of many bizarre insights and incidents the novel portrays; although some of the humour may these days be seen to be a little… blunt…

“The gentle reader will never, never know what a consummate ass he can become until he goes abroad. I speak now, of course, in the supposition that the gentle reader has not been abroad, and therefore is not already a consummate ass. If the case be otherwise, I beg his pardon and extend to him the cordial hand of fellowship and call him brother. I shall always delight to meet an ass after my own heart when I have finished my travels.”
― Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad

Overall there is so much more to Mark Twain than one quote and an old TV programme, he is well worth investigating.

Buy The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer – by Mark Twain
Buy The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn – by Mark Twain
Buy The Innocents Abroad – by Mark Twain