First published 1982
Justin Kaplan traces Samuel Clemens through seven and a half decades of American transformation. The author maps Twain's journey from Missouri boyhood through his years as riverboat pilot, Western journalist, and global literary celebrity. Kaplan places each phase of Twain's life within the broader currents of 19th and early 20th century America. The book explores how national events shaped the writer's worldview and creative output. Kaplan examines the social upheavals, intellectual movements, and political conflicts that surrounded Twain's career. The study reveals how America's rapid industrialization, westward expansion, and cultural evolution influenced the man who became the nation's most recognizable author. Through photographs and illustrations, Kaplan creates a visual record of both Twain's personal world and the larger American scene during his lifetime.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, american, 19th-century, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
Setting: America, Missouri
Period: 19th-century, 20th-century
224 pages · Hardcover · Harmony